CSPI Cautions Against Sucralose

According to The Huffington Post, the Center for Science in the Public Interest has released a statement changing the safety rating of sucralose from "safe" to "caution".  Sucralose is more popularly known as the main ingredient in the artificial sweetener Splenda. 

This shift comes after a recent Italian study found that sucralose causes leukemia in mice. The study has not yet been published and further review by the scientific community is required to determine credibility of the results. 

The experiment does highlight the wealth of things that remain unknown about the effects of chemical sweeteners in our bodies. The CSPI's "caution" rating suggests that more research needs to be conducted before the safety status of sucralose can be wholly determined. 

This new "caution" label, however, may need to be taken with a grain of salt. The CSPI also gave this rating to caffeine, a chemical that many people view as more of a lifesaver than a health risk. 

The CSPI also recommends people avoid the artificial sweeteners aspartame, saccharin, and acesulfame potassium (marketed as Sweet One). Yet many scientists still hold that drinking beverages sweetened by these chemicals may be safer than the full-sugar alternatives, which may pose health risks such as diabetes, heart disease, obesity, and more.