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Health Tip: Artificial Sweeteners - Can We Use Them Safely?
According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the average American consumes the equivalent of about 20 teaspoons of sugar per day, between meals, drinks and snacks.
New York, NY (PRWEB) March 19, 2006 -- According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the average American consumes the equivalent of about 20 teaspoons of sugar per day, between meals, drinks and snacks.
A great deal of people choose artificial sweeteners like saccharin and aspartame in order to save calories and - at the same time - satisfy their desire for sweets.
Reading an article that appeared in the online magazine FDA Consumer, we familiarize with the statement of agency: "Questions still linger about whether saccharin may cause cancer in humans, and though the sweetener is still widely used, it carries a label that warns of its potential risks."
According to the publication, aspartame "has come under fire in recent years from individuals who have used the Internet in an attempt to link the sweetener to brain tumors and other serious disorders. But FDA stands behind its original approval of aspartame, and subsequent evaluations have shown that the product is safe."
"A tiny segment of the population is sensitive to one of the sweetener’s byproducts and should restrict intake. However, the agency continually monitors safety information on food ingredients such as aspartame and may take action to protect public health if it receives credible scientific evidence indicating a safety problem," the FDA article said.
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