Which Sugar Substitutes Are Safe?

Sucralose (Splenda)

• Is safe
• Not digested or used as energy
• Passed all animal tests
• Dannon Light'n Fit Carb Control Yogurt
• Ocean Spray Light
• Tropicana Light'n Healthy Orange Juice

Aspartame (Equal, NutraSweet)

• Is safe
• Some people get headaches
• Passed all animal test
• Yoplait Light Fat Free Yogurt
• Breyers Light Fat Free Yogurt
• Diet Coke, Diet Pepsi, Diet Pepper, Diet Mountain Dew from can or bottle

Stevia (Sweet Leaf, Honey Leaf)

• Inadequately tested
• Safety not sure

Acesulfame (Sweet One, Sunett)

• Inadequately tested
• Safety not sure
• Frozen desserts, Diet 7UP, Diet Vanilla Coke, Diet Mountain Dew Code Red, Fresca, Diet Sprite, Pepsi One, Sugar Free Jell-O, Wrigley's Spearmint Gum

Saccharin (Sweet'N Low)

• Unsafe
• May cause bladder cancer in those who consume 2-3 eight ounces diet sodas daily
• Diet Coke, Diet Pepsi - from fountains
• Tab

Sugar Alcohols (Sorbitol, Xylitol, Mannitol, Hydrogenated starch hydrolysates)

• Can cause bloating, gas, diarrhea
• Some can contribute calories and carbohydrate
• Hershey's Sugar Free Chocolate Candy
• Log Cabin Sugar Free Syrup
• Many frozen dessert products

Be sure to read food labels carefully. Sugar substitutes may vary from product to product.

Resource: Nutrition Action Health Letter, May 2004, Volume 31/Number 4, Center for Science in the Public Interest