Are Artifically Sweeteners Safe

Are Artificial Sweeteners Safe

Chapter four

Kathy Swofford

Oct 5, 2013

Safety of Artificial Sweeteners

Artificial sweeteners are synthetic sugar substitutes but may be derived from naturally occurring substances, including herbs or sugar itself. Artificial sweeteners are also known as intense sweeteners because they are much sweeter than regular sugar (Mayo clinic). Artificial sweeteners are great alternatives because they add no calories to your diet. Artificial sweeteners are used in processed foods, soft drinks, candy, dairy products, and other foods and beverages. Some can even be used in cooking. (fda.gov 2013).

Artificial sweeteners have been the subject of debate for decades. Critics of artificial sweeteners say that they cause a variety of health problems, including cancer. That's largely because of studies dating to the 1970s that linked saccharin to bladder cancer in laboratory rats. Because of those studies, saccharin once carried a warning label that it may be hazardous to your health. According to the National Cancer Institute there's no scientific evidence that any of the artificial sweeteners approved for use in the U.S. cause cancer or other serious health problems and numerous research studies confirm that artificial sweeteners are generally safe in limited quantities, even for pregnant women. As a result of the newer studies, the warning label for saccharin was dropped. (Cancer.Gov, 2013).

Artificial sweeteners are regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as food additives. They must be reviewed and approved by the FDA before being made available for sale. In some cases, the FDA declares a substance "generally...