Splenda Goes from ‘Safe’ to ‘Caution’ after Leukemia Found in Mice
The Center for Science in the Public Interest is urging caution in the use of the artificial sweetener Splenda.
A food safety advocacy group has downgraded its rating for sucralose, the artificial sweetener better known as Splenda, from “safe” to “caution” in its chemical guide to food additives.
The Center for Science in the Public Interest, a nonprofit watchdog group, announced that it was downgrading itssafety rating of sucralose from “safe” to “caution,” meaning that the additive “may pose a risk and needs to be better tested.”
A recent study, done at an independent Italian laboratory has indicated that when mice were fed with Splenda regularly, they developed leukemia. This evidence, on top of the long list of studies discouraging the use of Splenda, is a major reason the FDA has changed its safety rating.
A 2002 study showed that Splenda ingestion damaged the DNA of mice. DNA damage can be a cause of cancer in many cases. In a 2008 study, researchers reported that Splenda ingestion had the potential to kill off necessary bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract. Killing this bacteria can often lead to disorders like irritable bowel syndrome, as this bacteria often helps with digestion and fights off invaders. In this unpublished study, researchers found that the sucralose can cause leukemia in mice who are exposed before birth.”
“Previously, the only long-term animal-feeding studies were done by sucralose’s manufacturers, the CSPI said.
So what’s a splenda user to do? According to CSPI your best bet is to skip it all together. “In order to avoid the risks of both sugars and non-caloric sweeteners, the CSPI is encouraging people to switch to water, seltzer water, flavored unsweetened waters, seltzer mixed with some fruit juice or unsweetened iced tea.”
After this information was released to the public a statement was released by Johnson and Johnson, which markets Splenda, stating that “more than 110 studies conducted over 20 years have proven the safety of sucralose.”
Article republished with permission: Article originally posted on HealthyHolisticLiving.com
About the Author
Michelle Toole is the founder and head editor of Healthy Holistic Living. This roll spawned from a health crisis over 14 years ago. Michelle went from marathon runner to bed ridden in what felt like overnight. Out of crisis came change, which at the time felt life ending but in retrospect was life fulfilling. Through this experience came the creation of healthy-holistic-living.com a site designed to share her experience and passion for holistic living and to support others who desire to create a shift in their lives. Learn all about her life’s inspiration and journey to health and wellness.