Most Americans have a relentless sweet tooth. Yet the majority are also concerned about their weight. They want their sweets, but without all the calories sugar can contribute to their diets. In response to consumer demand, food manufacturing companies began to develop sugar substitutes many decades ago. It is estimated that the sales of these nonnutritive sweeteners will top 950 million dollars annually. We find these sweeteners in diet beverages, candies, cakes, gum, gelatin, pudding, cookies, etc. But are these sweeteners really a better option than sugar? It all depends on who and what you believe.

Some of the earliest sweeteners to hit the market were cyclamates and saccharin. Cyclamates were removed from store shelves in 1970 because of animal studies indicating a link between the sweetener and the development of cancer in laboratory animals. Cyclamate has a sweetening power of about 30 times table sugar, an amount significantly below the sweetening power of other nonnutritive sweeteners. Similar test results with saccharin reduced its product use as well.

In 1992, the Food and Drug Administration approved the use of aspartase as a sweetener in food. Aspartase is a naturally occurring amino acid (protein molecule) which has about 180 times the sweetening power of sugar. Most consumers recognize it by the name "nutrasweet". It is the most frequently consumed sugar substitute in America. Although its taste is well accepted, some people have side effects from consuming this food additive, including nausea, burning on urination, and headaches.

The product should never be consumed by infants, children or adults with phenylketonuria as it will increase the phenylalanine in their blood to dangerously high levels.

Acesulfame-K is another sweetener used in dry mixes ("Sunette") and in chewing gum. Unlike aspartase, acesulfame-K is heat stable and can be used in baked products. Acesulfame-K is 200 times more sweet than sugar and is noncaloric as well.

Other sugar substitutes currently under development or awaiting FDA approval include sucralose and Alitame. Each of these sweeteners is closely scrutinized by the FDA to assure no harm to the consumer. However, that does not mean that individuals might not have adverse reactions. As with any food, it is important that we consume them in moderation and only as part of an overall healthy diet. In addition, although there is conflicting data on the effects of sugar substitutes on the unborn fetus or infants, it is advisable to restrict your intake of sweeteners during pregnancy and lactation.

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