PepsiCo Replaces Aspartame with Sucralose, but is Sucralose Safe for Consumers?
Olivia Wann
“Soda,” 05/2013.
The popular soda brand Pepsi has listened to their customers. They have taken aspartame out of Diet Pepsi. Of course, when you take out one zero calorie sweetener, you must replace it with another. Pepsi chose sucralose. Although there is no artificial sweetener that is deemed perfect, there is controversy surrounding the company’s switch because of possible health hazards associated with consuming the artificial sweetener.
So what is sucralose, anyway?
“Sucralose,” 05/2015.
Sucralose was discovered on accident while researchers were trying to develop a new pesticide (not the most appealing background story). It is made by taking sugar (sucrose), and adding atoms of chlorine. You probably have heard it referred to as Splenda, which is just a brand that produces it.
Humans do not have the genetic makeup to process sucralose, which means it is sweet to the taste, but passes through the body without being broken down. When something is not broken down, the calories are not absorbed. This is desirable because it allows people who must limit their calorie intake to consume things like “diet” soda and “diet” candy.
Is it widely used?
“Sucralose,” 10/2014.
Yes! If something is labeled as “light,” “low calorie,” or “diet,” it most likely contains sucralose, or one of the other artificial sweeteners. Even if it doesn’t have a label like that, it is common for brands to use both sugar and sweetener in order to keep calories and sugar content down. The FDA (a major figure because they determine if a food can be eaten) approved sucralose for general use in 1999, and it has been growing ever since.
So if a lot of companies use it, why is it a big deal that Pepsi is switching over?
The reason why, is because there have been recent studies suggesting that it can cause harm to humans in ways that were not detected in the original safety trials.
In a recent study, researchers found that sucralose can reduce the amount of good microbiota in the gut, thus causing a glucose intolerance. Researchers find, “some individuals' blood sugar temporarily shot up to levels that are characterized as pre-diabetic within just a few days of introducing the artificial sweetener” (via The Salt).
Another study suggests that people who consumed soda containing sucralose were less satisfied. The study states, “Those who had the non-caloric sweetened drink were less satisfied with their cookie compared to those who had the sugary drink or the unsweetened drink” (via Huffington Post).
Pepsi is just one of many companies making the switch, but more attention is being drawn to the potential long-term effects.
The great debate-
The companies that use sucralose stand by their decision. The CEO of PepsiCo, Seth Kaufman, explains that it was what consumers wanted, “It [aspartame] is literally the number-one complaint we’ve heard from diet-cola consumers as to why they’re drinking less and less diet soda” (via The Salt).
On the other hand, many natural-wellness advocates argue that the chemical is not safe for consumption. Natural Health Sherpa, a group of MDs and Nutritionists dedicated to blogging about wellbeing, argues, “Would you eat a substance that...was used for a chemical warfare agent?...Use common sense” (via Youtube).
So now what?
We wait. The companies who use sucralose and other artificial sweeteners believe that they are giving consumers what they want (“guilt free” ways of having sweets). The health and wellness advocates believe that they are protecting consumers by telling them what they should and shouldn’t eat.
There is no right or wrong answer. It definitely won’t kill you- “Aspartame is one of the most exhaustively studied substances in the human food supply, with more than 100 studies supporting its safety” (via FDA). Perhaps the best advice comes from The Salt, “Drink water instead.”
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