![]() Other side effects associated with the use of these sweeteners include headaches and diarrhea. Specifically, there have been concerns about aspartame and brain cancer - yet extensive studies have found no link between brain cancer and consuming artificial sweeteners within safe limits ( 17, 19, 20, 21). Sucralose has also been thoroughly researched, with over 100 studies pointing to its safety ( 19). The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) reviewed over 600 studies on aspartame in 2013 and found no reason to believe it isn’t safe for consumption ( 10, 18). ![]() Splenda does not contain aspartame, though it has fillers that are also found in aspartame-based sweeteners.Ī lot of controversy surrounds the safety and long-term health effects of artificial sweeteners like sucralose and aspartame. Fillers help mellow their intense sweetness and add a few calories. Sucralose and aspartame are artificial sweeteners. Thus, while aspartame- and sucralose-based sweeteners share some of the same fillers, Splenda does not contain aspartame. Similarly, aspartame-based sweeteners contain some of the same fillers. Only a tiny amount is the intensely sweet sucralose ( 14). Does Splenda contain aspartame?Īlmost 99% of the contents of a Splenda packet comprises fillers in the form of dextrose, maltodextrin, and moisture. This means that a 165-pound (75-kg) person would have to drink 21 cans of diet soda to surpass the ADI ( 17). For a 132-pound (60-kg) person, that equals the amount found in 75 single-serve (1-gram) packets of NutraSweet ( 9).įor further context, one 12-ounce (355-ml) can of diet soda contains about 180 mg of aspartame. The ADI for aspartame, which was set by the FDA, is 22.7 mg per pound (50 mg per kg) of body weight per day. For example, one single-serve (1-gram) packet of Equal has only 3.65 calories ( 16). ![]() Products like Equal therefore contain some calories from fillers like maltodextrin and dextrose, though it’s an insignificant amount. Like sucralose, aspartame-based sweeteners usually contain fillers that mellow the intense sweetness ( 9). It’s considered a nutritive sweetener because it contains calories - though only 4 calories per gram ( 9).īeing 200 times sweeter than sugar, only a small amount of aspartame is used in commercial sweeteners. While these are both naturally occurring substances, aspartame is not ( 15).Īlthough aspartame has been around since 1965, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) did not approve it for use until 1981. AspartameĪspartame comprises two amino acids - aspartic acid and phenylalanine. Given that 1 gram of Splenda contains mostly filler and only 1.1% sucralose, it’s unlikely that many people will regularly consume amounts beyond these safety recommendations ( 14). For a 132-pound (60-kg) person, this equals about 23 single-serve (1-gram) packets ( 9). The acceptable daily intake (ADI) of sucralose is 2.2 mg per pound (5 mg per kg) of body weight. Thus, it’s considered a low calorie sweetener ( 8, 12). That means one packet of Splenda contains 11% of the calories in 2 teaspoons of granulated sugar. ![]() Combined with sucralose, they contain 3.36 calories per gram ( 12, 13). Maltodextrin and dextrose are typically made from corn or other starch-rich crops. So while sucralose itself is calorie-free, the fillers found in most sucralose-based sweeteners like Splenda provide about 3 calories and 1 gram of carbs for every 1-gram serving ( 12). However, these fillers typically add a few, yet insignificant, number of calories. The resulting compound is not metabolized by the body ( 11).īecause sucralose is incredibly sweet - about 600 times sweeter than sugar - it’s often mixed with bulking agents like maltodextrin or dextrose ( 9, 11). To make sucralose, sugar undergoes a multistep chemical process in which three pairs of hydrogen-oxygen atoms are replaced with chlorine atoms. It debuted on the market in 1998 ( 9, 10, 11). Interestingly, though it’s calorie-free, sucralose is made from common table sugar. One packet of either sweetener is meant to mimic the sweetness of 2 teaspoons (8.4 grams) of granulated sugar, which has 32 calories ( 8). While they’re both high-intensity sweeteners, they differ in terms of their production methods and sweetness. Sucralose is widely sold under the brand name Splenda, while aspartame is typically found as NutraSweet or Equal. ![]() Sucralose and aspartame are sugar replacements that are used to sweeten foods or beverages without adding a significant number of calories or carbs. ![]()
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