ARTIFICIAL SWEETENERS
Aspartame
An artificial sweetener that is 200 times sweeter than sugar, aspartame is made
up of 3 chemicals – aspartic acid, phenylalanine and methanol. Commonly
known as Nutrasweet (a company formerly owned by GM giant Monsanto), the reactions
documented so far include memory loss, dizziness, seizures, fatigue, anxiety,
weight gain, vertigo, joint pain and in serious cases seizures and death. It’s
believed it can trigger or worsen chronic illnesses such as Parkinson’s,
MS, Alzheimer’s, diabetes and brain tumours and is considered one of the
most dangerous substances to humans and highly poisonous. It is also known to
cause birth defects - when a Monsanto-commissioned study into its effects on
unborn and new-born children revealed damaging information, the company withdrew
all funds into the research. It is also the second main ingredient in Canderel
and known as E951.
Acesulfame-k
Another artificial sweetener, acesulfame-k is a popular ingredient in diet and
calorie controlled food. Artificial sweetners are popular in ‘diet’
food because they are not digested or absorbed by the body and quickly pass
through the urinary tract. Brand names for Acesulfame-k are Canderel (half acesulfame-k
and aspartame), Sunett and Sweet One but is commonly found in soft drinks, yoghurts,
squashes, chewing gums, desserts, alcoholic beverages and some baked goods.
New research believes it to be even more toxic than aspartame and highly carcinogenic.
Tests carried out by the US food watchdog CSPI (Centre For Science in the Public
Interest) found that it caused thyroid tumours in animals and has been calling
for it’s safety to be properly tested. Also known as acesulfame potassium
and E950.
Saccharin
An artificial sweetener & sugar substitute with the UK brand name ‘Sweet
‘n’ Low’. It is 300 times sweeter than sugar and is a purified
compound found in coal tar. This product is surrounded by controversy and was
banned in Canada in the 1970s when it was believed to be a carcinogen. It carried
a health warning until a few years ago but some recent studies have shown that
poses an unlikely health risk to humans. However, there remain researchers and
food campaigners who do not recommend consuming saccharin. Is also labelled
as E954.
Sucralose
Sucralose (also known as ‘Splenda’) is the newest artificial sweetener
on the market and is 600 times sweeter than sugar. It claims to be made from
sugar and be closest to the sugar taste but this has been hotly disputed - Splenda
received a law suit from the Sugar Association who accused them false advertising.
The Sugar Association argued that sucralose is in fact an artificial chemical
made from chlorine and that the final product contained no sugar at all. Because
of its recent arrival in the food world there are no conclusive tests that say
sucralose is safe for humans. In fact, when the Food and Drug Administration
in the States conducted tests on sucralose they noticed damage to the immune
system, enlarged livers and kidneys and decreased white blood cell counts in
animals being fed it.