The use of artificial sweeteners is vital to my health and to all those who are threatened by diabetes. According to a Calorie Control Council 2006 survey, 33 percent of Americans or 71 million people are currently on a diet – the highest number of dieters in the past 15 years. A recent national survey shows that approximately 180 million American adults consume low-calorie foods and beverages – nearly double the number a decade ago. These increases in consumer attitudes toward dieting, health and wellness, and diabetes control have created a huge, yet controversial, demand for artificial sweeteners.
I will not address all the concerns about artificial sweeteners because there have been hundreds of studies that present good and bad about most sugar substitutes and their ingredients. However, I follow two sources for the latest information that I consider credible about artificial sweeteners:
The National Cancer Institute reports, “There is no clear evidence that the artificial sweeteners on the market in the United States are related to cancer risk in humans.” As with any artificial chemical ingredient, the prudent thing to do is consume in moderation.
The Calorie Control Council web site also keeps links to up-to-date information about artificial sweeteners and other diet and health related issues.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has currently approved five artificial sweeteners in the United States:
Aspartame (NutraSweet, Equal); 200 times sweeter than sugar
Saccharin (Sweet’N Low, Sweet Twin, Necta Sweet); 200 – 700 times sweeter than sugar
Acesulfame-K (Sunett, Sweet One); 200 times sweeter than sugar
Neotame (approved for use in baked goods, soft drinks, chewing gum, frosting, frozen desserts, jams, jellies, gelatins, puddings, processed fruit and fruit juices, toppings, and syrups); 7,000 – 13,000 times sweeter than sugar depending on how it is used in food
Sucralose (Splenda); 600 times sweeter than sugar
Given this information, I have typically used Splenda on the Atkins Diet and Sweet’N Low because of its mass availability in dining establishments. This is a comparison of the two products.
Splenda Review
In 1999, the FDA approved the use of sucralose as a general-purpose sweetener in all foods after reviewing more than 110 animal and human studies. Early in the stages of the lo-carb diet craze, I decided to use Splenda on the Atkins Diet to help control my weight and prevent the advancement of diabetes. It was easy to use because the granular form measured and poured just like sugar.
Since then, there have been several new Splenda products developed:
Splenda No Calorie Sweetener Packets; box of 700 is $15.49
Splenda No Calorie Granulated Sweetener; 19.4 oz box is $12.95
Splenda Sugar Blend for Baking; 1 lb bag is $10.95
Splenda Brown Sugar Blend; 1 lb box is $4.99
Splenda Quick Pack; one pack sweetens 2 gallons of drink for $.69
Once in a while, if I am baking a cake or dessert for a special occasion, I use the Splenda Sugar Blend for Baking that has half the calories and carbohydrates of real sugar. The blend helps the cakes rise better and makes them more moist than using the Granular Splenda. When baking with the Splenda Sugar Blend, you only need ½ cup of Splenda for each cup of sugar in a recipe. I am also very happy they have a Splenda Brown Sugar Blend now. Almost all cookie recipes use brown sugar, and I also use the Splenda Brown Sugar Blend to sweeten some teas, holiday ham, candied carrots, and other recipe favorites.
I don’t really use the Splenda No Calorie Sweetener Packets, because even though they say it is no calorie, each packet actually has 4 calories and one gram of carb carbohydrate per serving. If that is not a concern for you, then remember, each packet has the sweetness of two tablespoons of sugar. Sometimes I forget that these artificial sweeteners are many times sweeter than sugar.
I never experienced gastrointestinal problems with Splenda, but I know others who did. At a Christmas party one year, I purchased Russell Stover sugar-free candies (made with Splenda) for the coffee tables. One of my relatives ate several handfuls of the M & M – like candies and got serious stomach cramps later in the night. I’ve eaten every variety of Russell Stover candies made with Splenda and have never experienced cramps.
I find Splenda to be better tasting than Sweet’N Low, although Sweet’N Low is an acceptable substitute. To me, Splenda tastes more like real sugar and does not have a powdery aftertaste like others I have used.
Sweet’N Low Review
Of all the artificial sweeteners, saccharin, founded in 1879, is the oldest ingredient and has been the subject of more than 30 studies using humans. There was a saccharin ban in the late 1970’s, due to concerns about rats that developed bladder cancer after receiving high doses of saccharin. Since then, almost every major cancer organization has lifted that concern and declared it safe for use in moderation.
Saccharin is 200 to 700 times sweeter than sugar, according to the FDA. Sweet’N Low describes their sugar substitute as 300 to 500 times sweeter than sugar. I do know that when I use Sweet’N Low in my coffee or tea, I only use half of a packet. Sweet’N Low contains no calories and only one carbohydrate per serving. Sweet’N Low was first introduced in 1957, and the Cumberland Packing Corporation, who manufacturers Sweet’N Low, was the first to create the individual “packet” form of any product including sugar, soy sauce, ketchup and glue to toy companies. For some reason, the rich history and integrity of the company’s founders create a trust for me in their product. For an interesting view of a piece of Sweet’N Low history, click here to see vintage packets with famous people and locations on the back.
Sweet’N Low is available in many sizes and forms:
50, 100, 250, 500, and 1500 Sweet’N Low packets; the 500 packet box is $9.69
8 oz bulk box of Sweet’N Low; $2.50; each half pound box is equivalent to 5 pounds of sugar
3.2 oz bulk box of Sweet’N Low Brown; $1.25; equivalent in sweetness to 2 pounds of brown sugar
8 oz liquid bottle; $3.00
If you like the taste of Sweet’N Low and it does not cause any gastrointestinal side effects, you can purchase sugar-free candies made with Sweet’N Low from their licensed candy manufacturer and distributor, Simply Lite Foods. You can order cake mixes and icing mixes, made with Sweet’N Low from their licensed food manufacturer and distributor, Bernard Food Industries, Inc. The Sweet’N Low Company is currently working on wider distribution for the Sweet’N Low Brand Syrup. Stay tuned to the Sweet’N Low web site for more information about their syrup.
I really like Sweet’N Low simply because I trust the safety of the product since it has been around for so long. I also tend to use it more often because every retail outlet that sells drinks offers the pink packet of Sweet’N Low on the counter. It is also easy to cook with, but the measurements to sugar equivalents are different, so you really have to have your handy conversion table with you while you are baking. Overall, my opinion of Splenda and Sweet’N Low are fairly “equal.” But not like Equal the blue. Don’t like that one.
