Arguments for and Against Sugar Substitutes

861 Words4 Pages
Arguments For and Against Sugar Substitutes For years controversy has surrounded the use of sugar substitutes. Strong arguments can be made both for and against the use of alternative sweeteners. I believe that this is an important debate and researchers need to continue studying the long-term effects of alternative sweeteners on humans. In this paper, I will examine the many arguments in favor of sugar substitutes and against them. After looking at both sides, I will conclude that limited use of alternative sweeteners is safe and beneficial. The arguments in favor of alternative sweeteners Alternative sweeteners were developed to make food sweet without promoting tooth decay or providing the empty calories that sugar contains. (Sizer & Whitney, p. 475) Because they provide little or no energy, they are also referred to as noncaloric or nonnutritive sweeteners. Contrary to popular belief, “the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) endorses the use of noncaloric sweeteners as safe over a lifetime when used within the acceptable daily intake (ADI) levels” (Sizer & Whitney, p. 475). Additionally, the American Diabetes Association and the National Cancer Institute hold the position that FDA-approved nonnutritive sweeteners can be safely used by consumers. The FDA has an extensive and rigorous approval process, and strictly regulates all food additives. Five nonnutritive sweeteners have been approved as food additives by the FDA: Aspartame (Nutrasweet, Equal), Saccharin (Sweet-n-Low, Sugar Twin), Acesulfame K (Sweet One, Sunett), Neotame, and Sucralose (Splenda). (Shwide-Slavin, Swift & Ross, 2012). There have been numerous studies on the use of nonnutritive sweeteners and the effects on health issues including weight, food intake, appetite, and glycemic control. The majority of studies have indicated that the use of nonnutritive sweeteners “may help reduce

More about Arguments for and Against Sugar Substitutes

Open Document