SPLENDA^® Brand Sweetener, also known as sucralose, is a no-calorie sweetener that can be used as part of a healthy diet to reduce the calories and carbohydrate from sugar that you consume.

It is made through a patented process that starts with sugar and converts it to a no-calorie, non-carbohydrate sweetener. The result is a very stable sweetener that tastes like sugar, but without its calories. After you eat SPLENDA^® Brand Sweetener, it passes through the body without being broken down for energy, so the body does not recognize it as a carbohydrate.

SPLENDA^® Brand Sweetener is unique among no-calorie sweeteners, with clear benefits. It has a clean, sugar-like taste without the bitter aftertaste of some other no-calorie sweeteners, such as saccharin and acesulfame-K.^12-14 And unlike aspartame, it holds up to heat, so it can be used in cooking and baking.¹⁴ The great taste and many uses of sucralose have made a wide range of lower-sugar and lower-calorie food and beverages for healthy meal planning possible.

SPLENDA^® No Calorie Sweetener—the number one market leader among low-calorie sweeteners—is an excellent choice for those who want to reduce their added sugar intake, as well as their calorie and carbohydrate intake from sugar.

SPLENDA^® No Calorie Sweetener with Fiber is a product that has the same sweetness as a packet of SPLENDA^® No Calorie Sweetener,but with the added benefit of 1 gram of soluble fiber per packet. This product gives health-conscious individuals an innovative way to sweeten, by reducing their intake of added sugars while increasing dietary fiber at the same time. SPLENDA^® with Fiber can be used not only in beverages, but also to bake, and sprinkle on fresh fruit, hot and cold cereals, and other whole grains.

SPLENDA^® is also the brand name for the ingredient sucralose. It is made through a patented, multi-step process that starts with sugar and converts it to a no calorie, non-carbohydrate sweetener. The process selectively replaces three hydrogen-oxygen groups on the sugar molecule with three chlorine atoms. Chlorine is a natural part of salt, which is found in many foods, like lettuce, tomatoes, mushrooms, melons, and peanut butter, and chlorine is added to most public water supplies. Chlorine is also a part of more complex molecules found in such things as lentils, peas, and potatoes. It is a part of daily life. In the case of sucralose, its addition converts sucrose to sucralose, which is essentially inert. The result is an exceptionally stable sweetener that tastes like sugar, but without sugar's calories. Sucralose isn’t broken down for energy, and is not recognized by the body as a carbohydrate.

Sucralose (or SPLENDA^® Brand Sweetener), the high intensity sweetener used in all SPLENDA^® Products is not natural. It is a no calorie sweetener that is made from a process that starts with sugar. Although sucralose has a structure like sugar’s and a sugar-like taste, it is not natural. The advertising and packaging for SPLENDA^® Products do not represent the product as “natural.”

SPLENDA^® Brand Sweetener has no known side effects. Sucralose (or SPLENDA^® Brand Sweetener) has been the subject of extensive safety testing, with more than 20 years of research and over 110 scientific studies.^1,8-10 Its safety is well documented and the Food and Drug Administration, along with regulatory, health, and food safety authorities from around the world, have concluded that it is safe. It has been used throughout the world by millions of people since 1991, and there are no warning labels on the products to exclude anyone from enjoying SPLENDA^® Brand Sweetener. Sucralose is approved for use in over 80 countries and is currently used in more than 4000 products worldwide.

Because there are no health risks expected with sucralose use, you may consume a variety of products containing SPLENDA^® Brand Sweetener (sucralose) to reduce your calorie and carbohydrate intake from sugar every day without concern that you are exceeding a safe intake level.

McNeil Nutritonals, LLC, is extremely proud of the strong database that supports the safety of sucralose, the sweetening ingredient in all SPLENDA^® Sweetener Products. We recognize that this strong safety evidence is one of the many reasons why SPLENDA^® No Calorie Sweetener has been the number one low calorie sweetener in the U.S. market place for more than four years.

The safety of sucralose is well documented in more than 100 scientific studies conducted over a 20-year period. In addition, sucralose and, specifically, the safety data on sucralose, has been reviewed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and other national regulatory agencies, as well as by international health authorities such as the World Health Organization, and found to be safe for use by all consumers, including children, pregnant women and people with diabetes.

Sucralose has been available in international markets since 1991. The FDA first approved the use of sucralose as a nonnutritive sweetener in 1998 and expanded this approval in 1999. Currently, sucralose is permitted for use in over 80 countries and it has never been required to carry any safety information or warning statements on its labeling.

The FDA approved sucralose in 1998 for use in 15 food and beverage categories following a rigorous review process. Sixteen months later, the FDA extended its approval of sucralose to use as a general-purpose sweetener, which means that sucralose is permitted for use in foods, beverages, dietary supplements, medical foods and drugs.

Yes. Chlorine is a natural part of salt, and it is found in many foods, like lettuce, tomatoes, mushrooms, melons, and peanut butter. Chlorine is also added to most public drinking water supplies. Chlorine is also a part of more complex molecules found in such things as lentils, peas, and potatoes. It is a part of daily life.

In the case of SPLENDA^® Brand Sweetener, chlorine is used in a process that alters sugar to create the very stable no-calorie sweetener, sucralose. A large amount of research shows that sucralose can be used safely by everyone and that there is no cause for concern about safety because of chlorine.

What’s more, SPLENDA^® Brand Sweetener does not build up in the body, nor is it broken down to yield any free chlorine or smaller chlorinated molecules, and sucralose is calorie-free.

No. SPLENDA^® Brand Sweetener has no known side effects, including any stomach issues.^1,8-10

However, some lower-calorie foods, such as sugar-free ice cream, contain sugar alcohols in addition to SPLENDA^® Brand Sweetener. Sugar alcohols (such as mannitol, sorbitol, xylitol, lactitol, and maltitol) are sometimes a cause of bloating and diarrhea if too much is eaten.

You should check the ingredient listing on the labels of the foods you eat if you get an upset stomach after eating. If your stomach gets upset after consuming a lower-calorie food that contains SPLENDA^® Brand Sweetener, it is important to note what other ingredients the product contains.

No. Research does not support that sucralose causes migraines or headaches. There are no adverse effects expected with sucralose use. Headaches and migraines are very common events in people and can be caused by many things. Sucralose is not known to produce changes in the body that are associated with headaches or migraines. For example, sucralose has no known effects on vasodilation (opening of blood vessels) or blood pressure. Studies show no effect on blood glucose or insulin levels and there are no known effects on the nervous system.

No. Sucralose does not affect the kidneys. Research shows that most sucralose that is eaten is largely unabsorbed and simply passes out of the body in the stool. The small amount that is absorbed also passes harmlessly out of the body through the urine. Sucralose has no known side effects, including any involving the kidneys. More than 20 years of research and over 110 scientific studies confirm the safety of sucralose.^1,8-10

No. Sucralose does not affect the liver. Research shows that most sucralose that is eaten is largely unabsorbed and simply passes out of the body in the stool. The small amount that is absorbed also passes harmlessly out of the body through the urine. Sucralose has no known side effects, including any involving the liver. More than 20 years of research and over 110 scientific studies confirm the safety of sucralose.^1,8-10

No. Sucralose has no effect on the thymus gland. The thymus has a role in early immune system development. Similarly, no adverse effects on the immune system are seen in studies with lifetime exposures and at doses far in excess of any estimated human intake. Specific studies have also rigorously evaluated the potential for sucralose to affect overall immune system function and health, and showed no adverse effects.¹¹ In all, they help confirm that sucralose can be used safely by the whole family and that it can be a great substitution for sugar.

All SPLENDA^® Sweetener Products contain SPLENDA^® Brand Sweetener, or sucralose, the sweetening ingredient that gives SPLENDA Sweetener Products the great taste people love without calories.

Like other no-calorie sweeteners on the market, SPLENDA^® No Calorie Sweetener Packets and SPLENDA^® No Calorie Sweetener Granulated products contain small amounts of carbohydrate (less than 1 gram per serving) to provide volume and texture. These common food ingredients are dextrose (packets) and maltodextrin (packets and granulated). These ingredients provide so few calories per serving that all SPLENDA^® No Calorie Sweetener Products meet the Food and Drug Administration’s criteria for no-calorie foods (<5 calories/serving).

After it is ingested, most (about 85%) is not absorbed and passes through the body unchanged in the stool. Of the small amount that is absorbed, most leaves the body unchanged in the urine within 24 hours.

No. The regulatory agencies and scientific review bodies that have approved the use of SPLENDA^® Brand Sweetener have not required any warning or special information statements to be placed on the labels of products sweetened with SPLENDA^® Brand Sweetener.

Although sucralose is made from a process that begins with sugar, the body does not recognize it as sugar or as a carbohydrate. It is not metabolized by the body for energy, so it is calorie-free.

Sucralose, the no-calorie sweetening ingredient in SPLENDA^® No Calorie Sweetener, is about 600 times sweeter than sugar. Like other tabletop sweeteners, the granulated and packet products contain small amounts of carbohydrate (less than 1 gram per serving) for consistent sweetening and to provide volume. These bulking ingredients are dextrose (packets) and maltodextrin (packets and granulated). However, the bulking ingredients provide so few calories per serving that the FDA allows the SPLENDA^® No Calorie Sweetener Products to be labeled no calorie sweeteners, because they provide less than five calories per serving.

Yes. All FDA-required studies to support the safety of sucralose during pregnancy and nursing have been performed. As a result, the FDA and other important health authorities have concluded that sucralose is suitable for use by everyone, including pregnant and nursing women. SPLENDA^® Brand Sweetener may be used as part of a healthy prenatal and postnatal diet to help reduce excess calories from added sugars. Of course, women who are pregnant or breastfeeding should always talk with their doctor about their nutritional and caloric needs to support their health as well as their baby’s.

Yes. SPLENDA^® Brand Sweetener (sucralose) can be used by everyone, including children. SPLENDA^® Sweetener Products are a great way to reduce the amount of added sugars your child eats daily, and may even help get your child to eat healthier foods. Try using SPLENDA^® No Calorie Sweetener on fruit for a sweetness to match your child’s tastes. It can be a great way to replace higher-calorie treats that might also be lower in important vitamins and minerals. SPLENDA^® Sweetener Products can also be used in beverages, on hot and cold cereals, and with whole grains. You can even bake some of your child’s favorite special-occasion treats like cookies and cake, but with less added sugar. If you have questions about your child’s diet/nutritional needs or weight, please check with your child’s doctor and/or a registered dietitian.

No. SPLENDA^® Brand Sweetener, or sucralose, the sweetening ingredient in SPLENDA^® Sweetener Products, does not promote tooth decay.

Studies also show that the retail Packet and Granulated SPLENDA^® No Calorie Sweetener products have significantly less potential to cause cavities than sugar; although they contain a small amount of carbohydrate to provide texture and volume.

SPLENDA^® No Calorie Sweetener Minis and SPLENDA^® MIST™ No Calorie Sweetener will not promote tooth decay. This is because they contain little or none of the carbohydrate ingredients found in Packet and Granulated SPLENDA^® No Calorie Sweetener Products. However, the foods or beverages that they are consumed with may contain carbohydrate.

Yes. Even though SPLENDA^® Brand Sweetener starts with sugar, it goes through a patented process that changes it into a no-calorie, non-carbohydrate sweetener. The result is a sweetener that tastes like sugar, without any of sugar’s calories. And, like sugar, it stays sweet even when it’s used in cooking and baking.

The body does not recognize SPLENDA^® Brand Sweetener as a sugar. In fact, clinical studies have shown that SPLENDA^® Brand Sweetener (sucralose) does not affect blood glucose levels, insulin, or HbA^1c.1-3 In a meal plan for people with diabetes, up to 4 packets of SPLENDA^® No Calorie Sweetener or up to 8 teaspoons of SPLENDA^® No Calorie Sweetener, Granulated, are considered a “free food.” The American Dietetic Association and the American Diabetes Association consider a free food to be any food or beverage that contains less than 20 calories and 5 grams or less of carbohydrate per serving.

Like other no-calorie sweeteners on the market, the granulated and packet products contain small amounts of carbohydrate (less than 1 gram per serving) that provide needed volume and texture. These common food ingredients, which include maltodextrin and/or dextrose, add so few calories per serving that all SPLENDA^® No Calorie Sweetener Products meet the Food and Drug Administration’s criteria for no-calorie foods (<5 calories/serving).

No. There are no known interactions with medications and SPLENDA^® Brand Sweetener. Except for providing sweetness, SPLENDA^® Brand Sweetener is essentially an inert (inactive) ingredient. It can be enjoyed by everyone, including those on one or more medications.

Yes. There are no safety concerns expected with the use of SPLENDA^® Brand Sweetener by patients on dialysis.

Yes. Health authorities around the world have confirmed that sucralose, the sweetening ingredient in SPLENDA^® Sweetener Products, can be used safely by everyone. This is based on a strong body of research, which includes studies about how sucralose acts in the body. Sucralose has been found to be safe for daily use over a person's lifetime in amounts hundreds of times greater than what could ever be expected to be eaten. Experts know that sucralose is a very stable substance, most of which is not absorbed after it is eaten.

If you have further questions, your doctor is a good source for information. We would also be happy to speak with your doctor, if he or she has any questions about sucralose and medications.

Separately, we do suggest that you check with your doctor and/or a registered dietitian about your nutritional needs during chemotherapy, since chemotherapy can affect your overall nutritional status and daily calorie intake.

All of the corn-derived ingredients in SPLENDA^® Sweetener Products come from the starch fraction of corn and are highly purified ingredients, resulting in an end product that would not be expected to contain any appreciable amount of protein. However, we can’t guarantee that there are not traces of protein residue in our products. It is the protein in certain foods that usually triggers allergic reactions.

SPLENDA^® No Calorie Sweetener Minis do not contain any corn-derived ingredients and are a good option for people with corn allergies.

SPLENDA^® Brand Sweetener, or sucralose, is suitable for everyone, and the sweet taste can be enjoyed by the whole family, including people with diabetes, children, and women who are pregnant or nursing.

SPLENDA^® Brand Sweetener makes possible low- or reduced-calorie versions of a wide variety of products due to its unique stability.

SPLENDA^® No Calorie Sweetener may be used as part of a healthy diet that includes a variety of nutritious foods in moderate portions. Because SPLENDA^® No Calorie Sweetener tastes like sugar and can be used for cooking and baking, it helps meet consumer demand for good-tasting foods and beverages without all the empty calories of sugar.

SPLENDA^® Brand Sweetener can help decrease caloric intake by replacing sugar. For example, for every 2 teaspoons of sugar you replace with SPLENDA^® No Calorie Sweetener, you save over 25 calories. Another example that can save you approximately 150 calories is replacing one 12-fl. ounce can of soda sweetened with sugar or high-fructose corn syrup with a beverage sweetened with SPLENDA^® Brand Sweetener. Using SPLENDA^® Brand Sweetener along with regular physical activity can be a great way to help with weight management.

In fact, a 2007 study published in Pediatrics, the official journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics, demonstrated that by making 2 simple changes daily—using SPLENDA® Brand Sweetener as part of a program to reduce calorie intake and increasing activity levels—families can help overweight children slow their rate of weight gain.^*4

A recent article in The New York Times Newspaper (J. Brody, February 17, 2009) also points out that when used properly, no-calorie sweeteners can aid in weight management. The article states, “Small changes in caloric intake can result in small but meaningful healthier weights”.⁵

SPLENDA^® Brand Sweetener is a great way to reduce the calories and carbohydrates from added sugars consumed daily—without sacrificing taste.

Yes. SPLENDA^® Brand Sweetener (sucralose) can be used by everyone, including children. SPLENDA^® Sweetener Products are a great way to reduce the calories from added sugars that your child eats daily, and may even help get your child to eat healthier foods. Try using SPLENDA® No Calorie Sweetener on fruit for a sweetness to match your child’s tastes. It can be a great way to replace higher-calorie treats that might also be lower in important vitamins and minerals. SPLENDA^® Sweetener Products can also be used in beverages, on hot and cold cereals, and with whole grains.

A 2007 study published in the official journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics demonstrated that by making 2 simple changes daily—using SPLENDA^® Brand Sweetener as part of a program to reduce calorie intake and increasing activity levels—families can help overweight children slow their rate of weight gain.⁴

SPLENDA^® Brand Sweetener is a great way to reduce the calories and carbohydrates from added sugars consumed daily—without sacrificing taste. If you have questions about your child’s diet/nutritional needs or weight, please check with your child’s doctor and/or a registered dietitian.

No. SPLENDA^® Brand Sweetener does not cause weight gain—rather it can help decrease caloric intake when used in place of sugar. The use of no-calorie sweeteners to help decrease caloric intake, along with regular physical activity, may help with weight management.

SPLENDA^® Brand Sweetener is a great way to help reduce calorie, carbohydrate, and sugar intake—without sacrificing taste.

No, SPLENDA^® Brand Sweetener does not contain formaldehyde.

No, SPLENDA^® Brand Sweetener does not contain aspartame. Aspartame is another no-calorie sweetener unrelated to sucralose.

No, SPLENDA^® Brand Sweetener does not contain DDT.

No, SPLENDA^® Brand Sweetener does not contain lactose, nor do any of the SPLENDA^® Sweetener Products, except for SPLENDA^® No Calorie Sweetener Minis.

There are no gluten containing, grain based ingredients derived from wheat, rye, or barley, nor any ingredients derived from oats, used to produce SPLENDA^® Brand Sweetener (sucralose) or the SPLENDA^® Sweetener Products. We do not test our finished products for the presence of gluten.

Yes, SPLENDA^® Brand Sweetener (sucralose) is certified kosher Parve. In fact, all SPLENDA^® Sweetener Products are kosher, except for SPLENDA® No Calorie Sweetener Minis, which contain lactose. In addition, SPLENDA^® No Calorie Sweetener Packets and Granulated are certified as Halal.

SPLENDA^® Brand Sweetener, or sucralose, does not come from genetically modified sources and the manufacturing process does not use any ingredients that come from genetically modified sources. While we can’t guarantee that the corn used to make the maltodextrin (granulated and packets) and dextrose (packets) in our SPLENDA^® No Calorie Sweetener Products does not come from genetically modified sources, both of these ingredients come from the starch part of the corn, are highly purified, and are not likely to contain any protein or genetic material.

Yes. There is no expiration date required on either SPLENDA^® No Calorie Sweetener Granulated or Packet products. These products are very stable and can remain in your home for years without losing sweetness. However, they should be stored in a cool dry place to avoid moisture.