Heartland Food Products Group, makers of Splenda Sweeteners, is claiming that the recent CSPI rating on Sucralose is misleading to consumers.
In response to the safety rating of sucralose by the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI), Heartland Food Products Group, the makers of SPLENDA Sweeteners, wants people to know their side of the story.
Here is the official statement from Heartland:
The CSPI rating is based solely on one study of mice that was conducted by the Ramazzini Institute in Italy, published in the International Journal of Occupational and Environmental Health, and does not reflect the collective body of scientific evidence proving the safety of sucralose. Additionally, health regulatory and food safety authorities have found other studies conducted by the Ramazzini Institute to be unreliable. The group routinely conducts studies using an unconventional design and has been criticized for not following internationally-recognized safety assessment standards.
The truth is that the collective scientific evidence strongly supports that sucralose is safe and does not cause cancer. Sucralose has been extensively researched, with more than 110 studies conducted over a 20-year period. These studies include rigorous testing to specifically identify any potential for causing cancer. Worldwide regulatory authorities, including the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the European Food Safety Authority, Health Canada and the World Health Organization, have reviewed these studies and confirm that results show no link between sucralose and cancer. The U.S. National Cancer Institute also supports this conclusion.
Our society faces significant health risks with obesity and being overweight, including complications like diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Research indicates that one contributor to becoming overweight can be excess intake of added sugars. As a consequence, the current U.S. Dietary Guidelines, the World Health Organization and the American Heart Association have all recommended a reduction in average sugar consumption. Low-calorie sweeteners, like SPLENDA®, are effective tools for consumers to reduce their added sugar intake, helping them to lead healthier lives.
This latest study by the Ramazzini Institute is just one more example of the type of report that perpetuates misperceptions about low-calorie sweeteners. Extensive research strongly supports that sucralose is safe for everyone and does not cause cancer. That is why SPLENDA Sweeteners are recommended by health care professionals every day and are safely used by millions of people with a variety of health conditions, such as diabetes, obesity and being overweight. For more information from Heartland, you can visit http://splendatruth.com.
The previous statement from Heartland is in response to the downgrading by CSPI of sucralose from “Caution” to “Avoid” in the group’s Chemical Cuisine glossary of food additives after an animal study indicated cancer risk. You can read the full news story about the downgrade by CSPI here: CSPI Downgrades Sucralose from “Caution” to “Avoid”
Who funds the Ramazzini laboratory ? What is their reputation?
The are funded through donations. From the Ramazzini Institute website: Thanks to the support of our members and the public over the years we have been able to achieve extremely important results at international level in research into carcinogenic substances present in the environment we live in and in the food that we eat. Our independent research is not financed by industry, but is promoted and financed by the public. That is why our studies are not distorted, concealed or modified: our results have always protected the health of all, not just the interests of the few.