Citizens for Health, a national consumer group, is concerned that the artificial sweetener Splenda is causing side effects and making consumers ill. Though it isn't stated which specific side effects people are experiencing, the group is lobbying for additional research to be conducted on sucralose, the sweetening component of Splenda. Merisant, the makers of Equal and NutraSweet, believe that the company which makes Splenda, McNeil Nutritionals, is misleading the public with their tagline "made from sugar so it tastes like sugar."
The Chairman of Citizens for Health, Jim Turner, has stated, "I encourage consumers to contact us if they have suffered any side effects from the use of the chlorinated artificial sweetener Splenda and to join us in demanding that FDA immediately conduct case studies on possible side effects from its use."
Though not a scientifically accurate survey, a simple poll conducted on the source article webpage reveals that 60% of respondents claim that they do use Splenda, and have never noticed any problems. 30% say they don't use the product at all, while another 10% claim they do use Splenda, and have noticed side effects. What about you? Do you use Splenda in place of regular sugar, and if so, have you ever experienced any form of side effect from it?
2-16-2008 @3:26PM sylvia said... I ue=sed to use splenda. I used it for about four months. I was one of those people who had the bad side effects, I had headaches, extreme dizziness, ugly looking rash on my neck, itchiness all over,and fatigue. At first I thought I had a tumor because a tumor can cause dizziness and headaches, and maybe I just had dry skin, and I was thinking I was depressed. But then I was thinking maybe it was my diet and wondered what had I changed, I was using splenda. I immediately stopped using splenda and researched it. I found a book by Dr. Mercola. His book is called Sweet Deception. It explains all about splenda. If anyone reads this bok and is using splenda I am sure you will stop using splenda immediately, and if you have problems with your health stop immediately! It's from the splenda!!
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2-14-2008 @4:34PM sylvia said... Just another little note. If you read the ingredients on a packet of splenda, you will see that it does have sugar! I am pretty sure that after it says sucralose it says maltodextrin and dextrose. Those are sugars. It is not safe for diabetics. In the book I mentioned there was a case with a women who had a husband who is diabetic and she cooked with splenda everyday. You will have to read his story if whoever is reading this is daibetic, it will shock you.
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3-01-2008 @6:32PM charlie smith said... I used Splenda for one week. Suffered from headaches and bloating. As soon as I stopped, these symptoms ceased.........
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3-31-2008 @5:17PM L Dame said... I can give you reason not to use SPLENDA! I and thousands of others can give you reason not to use it. It will kill you! It's not sugar... It's CHLORINE! Go out to www.belicove.com and read the thousand of individuals, including myself that have had terrible side effects from this product! FDA tested maybe 30 people... what kind of test is that!
Save YOURSELVES... STOP USING SPLENDA!
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4-30-2008 @12:41PM angelina Roché said... I have used Splenda for over two years on my coffee to keep calories down.
Since last year my Dr notice blood test showing high Tryglyceride.
Before Splenda my Tryglyciride levels was 132 below normal. Last year 234,and this week test results 04/04/08 304. I walk daily 4 miles eat healthy no fats.
I have a sneak suspicion that Splenda is causing this problem.
Please email if anyone have similar changes on the Tryglyceride.
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4-22-2008 @8:57PM Carol said... my brother was using it and his lips kept getting swollen. Once they swelled up real bad and he said it was very embarrassing. He went to the doc and they could not figure it out. My brother thought maybe it was the Splenda he was using, so quit. He has not had the problem since.
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4-24-2008 @11:30AM DAVE SHORT said... I, too, believed blindly that anything that the FDA approved was OK. I used Splenda (supposedly the "safe one")specifically as a diet sweetner. I went thru several years of continuous headaches - 24/7/365. The headaches were usually a low level cloud that just took all the fun out of life. Sometimes they were real killers that took narcotics and bed to overcome. I (and my insurance company) spent thousands of dollars on Dr. visits, blood tests, allergy tests, scans, eeg's, and such - to no avail. Coming back from a horribly un-enjoyable vacation, my wife read us a book by Dr. Mercola. All of the issues he proposed seemed to be not only plausible, but probable in my case. That day was the last day that I consumed any sucralose. And praise God! Within three days my headaches were gone. Yes, I still get headaches. But they are more like I used to get - rarely and mild. It is amazing how good it feels to not be poisoned. I DO suggest stevia as a natural sweetner. I have studied stevia deeply and can find no evidence - not any - that claims any bad things about it. And keep in mind that the FDA, apparently for the economic benefit of the processed sugar manufactures, has not yet approved the product as a sweetner - only as a "supplement". It has no chemicals, no calories, and creates no craving for sugars. For the best results, choose a pure stevia extract in powder form. It will have no aftertaste as all of the liquid types I have tried. I also suggest that you go to Dr. Mercola's website and get a better understanding of the poisons that the FDA is approving.
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5-18-2008 @3:42PM Holly said... Just started using this product about 10 days ago. Have noticed horrific bloating and last nite was awakened by sever stomach cramps. Head aches, severe moodswings as well. This isnt me.
It is unfortunate because it is difficult to find low calorie, caffeine free low cost products that make large pitchers. I thought this was neing caused by new vitamins I have been taking but I have had those in my system for four months with only mild discomfort. This product needs to be revisted by its manufaturers.
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5-27-2008 @3:34AM Amee said... I have been using Splenda for three days,and have
experienced water retention and extreme hunger.
With Nutri Sweet,I experience dry skin and a feeling of bloating. I'm done with both of them.Since I have no sign of diabetes and actually maintained better
health while drinking regular Coke and having a
variety of unsweetened drinks such as coffee or tea.
Also a slight headache.I never get headaches,but with these sweeteners I've had problems.
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11-20-2008 @1:07PM Angela said... I have side effects when eating or drinking anything with (splenda) sucralose in it.
About 5 min after drinking something that is 'sugar free' -- thanks to splenda -- my head starts to hurt and I feel like I really need to lie down, or else I might vomit. In short, it makes me feel like I have the flu.
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11-20-2008 @1:07PM Angela said... "#16 - "canker" sores are caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV)"
no they are not. That would be cold sores or fever blisters. Canker sores are different.
they are abrasions that get inflamed and infected on the inside few the mouth, people with braces often get them -- and it is NOT herpes.
herpes is something that you have for EVER, it NEVER goes away. The herpes virus resides in your body fro ever, much like HIV/AIDS and Malaria.
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12-22-2008 @11:03PM mrs. chuck said... For approximately ten months, I have had an extremely sore tongue and mouth. I had begun to use Splenda some months prior to that. I have been to many dentists, doctors, etc and no one has figured out what is causing the sore and burning tongue. I was wondering if anyone else has had these mouth issues while using the product, Splenda?
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1-17-2009 @12:40PM Lisa said... I have used Equal for along time now and without any side effects at all. I have recently started using a product that has Splenda in it. It gives me bloating and gas. I can use the regular product without Splenda and I am fine. I have no other option than to believe it is probably the Splenda giving me the bloating and gas. Some artifical sweetners do me that way so I guess I have to add Splenda to that list.
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1-24-2009 @9:24AM lavanda dolce said... I wanted to share an odd experience this morning. My deck is nearly frozen solid from ice and my puppy wanted to go out on the deck. Because I have no table salt, I was trying to find something that I could sprinkle onto the ice that may melt it or enable her to tread on it without slipping. So I grabbed the bag of Splenda and sprinkled it onto the ice. I then stepped on it with my slippers to be sure it would not be slippery. It was at that point I looked up and saw the huge icicles on the side of the house starting to drip and near ready to fall. I made the decision that my puppy is not coming out on the deck until my husband wakes up and gets rid of the falling ice. I then came into the house. Imagine to my surprise I went to take a step and my slippers were firmly planted to the carpet like glue! No kidding. Glue. The combo of the ice/water and splenda turned to glue! So now I wondered....how can people drink this in their ice tea? Won't it work like glue in the body? I threw my bag away.
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2-08-2009 @7:51AM SURI,YV said... I am using sugar free natura a brand of sucralose(Splenda) for about a year and i have not noticed any side effects so far.
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2-28-2009 @6:07PM caitlin said... umm ya I'm diabetic and yes splenda is safe for diabetics but the only reason that guy died was because he didn't have any carbohydrates to keep his blood sugar good so sugar is safe for diabetics but it isn't all u should eat. oh ya and it isn't chlorine that's in it its chloride maybe some of u should stop depending on the web for all your information and get a brain!!!!!!!
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3-05-2009 @11:55AM LK said... @Lavanda Dolce
Haha, this is a joke, right? You know that regular sugar gets sticky too when it's wet, right? Lots of substances can form a bond when they get damp. Hope you're throwing out your fruit too, the juice from an orange can be an incredibly sticky thing.
I've been using Splenda for quite a while. And not piddling amounts either. Quite a lot, really. I'm fine. Your mileage may vary.
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6-11-2009 @3:02PM JKC said... I have not read all the comments here and I am just letting people know about some issues I have had. First, I found this page by searching for "Splenda side effects." I conducted this search because I wanted to see if others were having the same issue. I have gone about two years knowing that I am allergic to Splenda. I think that each individual has different reactions to all of the sugar substitutes. I really don't think it is just one of them. To pick one of the evils out is kinda crazy to me. Now, I do not have reactions to any of the others. My problem is with Splenda. I have to be really careful any time I buy something that says light or diet on it. They don't always tag the product with "Splenda" or "Nutrisweet" or any of the others. It is simply listed as the actual chemical name within the ingredients. Splenda is the name brand for Sucralose. Anytime I take Sucralose, which by all means would be simply an accident, I get severe migraine headaches that literally put me in bed for a couple of days. I just want people to be aware that it does not matter what the brand is or what the ingredient is, people react differently to each. Just be careful what you use and make note of it if it makes you sick. I really try hard just to not eat and drink things with a lot of sugar in it and stay away from diet altogether. No more headaches! Good luck to all of you in finding the right combination for yourself.
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7-29-2009 @11:08AM Marly said... About 2 weeks ago my brother bought some Diet Coke with Splenda. I am a diet coke drinker so decided to try it. The next day I went to drive in to town and I got the shakes, couldn't catch my breath, had an intense dizzy spell and almost passed out at the wheel and my stomach was turning summer saults. I ended up in someone's driveway and the ambulance was called and I was taken to the hopsital. I continued drinking the soda when I returned home that night, not making a connection with the soda. I stayed sick for over a week. Then we ran out of soda and I had a week of no sickness of any kind. Then this past Monday he brought more soda home and sure enough, all my symptoms returned. I was laying in the bed last night when for some reason all this came to mind and I pieced it all together. I'm not going to drink the soda anymore and see how I feel. In my opinion it would be wise to stay away from anything with Splenda in it...
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9-29-2009 @2:33PM Karen M. said... Splenda does cause canker sores - if you are allergic to it. Canker sores are not just caused by a virus. They can also be caused by food allergies. I had a ton of splenda products last Friday/Saturday and my entire throat broke out in canker sores. My doctor confirmed that this was due to an allergy. There is plenty of research out there about the connection between canker sores and food allergies (ones you might not know you have until you consume something in large quantities).
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