Pink, Yellow, Green And Fraud: The Artificial Sweetener Scam | Lifestyle

Pink, Yellow, Green And Fraud: The Artificial Sweetener Scam

by BobbyFinley

Beginning with Saccharin in the 1870's, sugar substitutes and other artificial sweeteners have grown into a multi billion dollar industry that spans the globe. Recently, on All Tech Considered from National Public Radio, host Robert Siegel interviews author Carolyn de la Pena about her new book which explores the growth and development of artificial sweeteners. The August 2010 edition of leading trade journal CoffeeTalk features artificial sweeteners on its cover as well as in an article by Katie Bakker entitled "White, Brown, Blue, Pink, Yellow, Green, Clear...a universe of sweet colors." Consumers are on the march in search of alternatives to sugar.

What is it about sugar that would make people want to leave it behind in search of alternatives? Study after study confirms the tie between sugar consumption and adverse health effects such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, periodontal disease and obesity. Sugar substitutes on the other hand offer the promise of all the sweetness, and in most cases even more, than sugar. As they are not sugar, these sweeteners offer an attractive benefit to those on a diet as they are advertised as zero calorie, no calorie, or calorie free.

As much demand as there is for alternative sweeteners, there is an equal impetus to sell them. Many coffee shops offer a wide range of sweeteners. After a customer has paid and turns to leave the coffee shop, they are conveniently placed in front of a bar where they have the option to add creamer, sugar and of course every imaginable kind of artificial, zero calorie sweetener to their coffee. Giving customers these options encourages them to first, make a purchase, and then to remain a loyal customer afterward, according to Katie Bakker.

If artificial sweeteners are better for you than sugar and do not contain any calories, then why are there so many of them? Surely one is enough? The truth is, there is a great variety between different kinds of sweeteners. Some claim to be made or derived from sugar while on the other hand, others are made from compounds not found in nature and require extensive processing.

What gets lost in the midst of all the hype over the health benefits of artificial sweeteners is the message that artificial sweeteners also pose significant health risks. As a result of multiple, clinical studies, the Food and Drug Administration began to require that products made with saccharin be labeled with the following statement: "Use of this product may be hazardous to your health. This product contains saccharin, which has been determined to cause cancer in laboratory animals." During a 2 year period, the National Cancer Institute conducted a study, the conclusion of which was that saccharin can and does cause bladder cancer. Despite the obvious health risks associated with saccharin, this label is no longer required on products containing saccharin. No, the FDA did not remove this regulation, rather it was congress which was very heavily lobbied by the saccharin industry that did away with the labeling requirement.

Splenda is alternative sweetener that claims that as it is a sugar derivative it has no such cancer causing chemicals. Splenda has had such slogans as "It starts with sugar. It tastes like sugar. But it's not sugar." These slogans have launched numerous lawsuits across the world against the claims they make. The Sugar Association has even filed a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) against the makers of Splenda. In its complaint, the Sugar Association says that Splenda is not cultivated, nor grown and does not occur in nature. McNeil Nutritionals, the manufacturer of Splenda, contends that their advertising "represents the products in an accurate and informative manner and complies with applicable advertising rules in the countries where Splenda brand products are marketed." In the United States Splenda is marketed as a no calorie sweetener. In actuality, there are 3.31 calories per packet of Splenda. McNeil Nutritionals are allowed to take advantage of a loop hole whereby they can claim that Splenda is no calorie product. In particular, the FDA allows a product to be labeled as "zero calorie" so long as "food contains less than 5 calories per reference amount customarily consumed and per labeled serving."

The sweetness of Splenda comes from sucralose, the main ingredient is 600 times sweeter than natural sugar. Many marketing campaigns have been launched to proclaim that fact. Consumers have been inundated with messages that artificial sweeteners are sweeter than sugar minus the downside. While artificial sweeteners in themselves do not impact weight gain, they do influence our perception of sweetness. Our addiction is not so much with sugar but with the taste and sensation of sweetness. A number of studies have recently been released that say that in fact their is a relationship between artificial sweeteners and weight gain, not loss. This might seem counter intuitive as calorie free products mean must mean they are healthier right? Could it be that because people know they are eating something that is supposedly calorie free that they eat more of it? Maybe.

In a sense, every individual has to be their own consumer advocate. No amount of government oversight or regulation can make each and every product safe. There is no amount of product innovations that can mitigate every negative side effect from a product. It then becomes incumbent upon everyone to make sure that they take precautions and research the products and foods that they consume.

DISCLAIMER: This article is provided as information only and is not to be taken as financial advice.

Bobby Finley is the author of this and other articles related to consumer protection and consumer protection. He is the founder and General Manager of coffee import company www.mdmimports.com. His passion for gourmet coffee beans extends beyond the business aspect of the company and into issues such as the quality of life in coffee producing countries, free and fare trade and consumer protection.