Researcher Find Possible Link Between Sucralose and Cancer
According to a new research study, the artificial sweetener sucralose, which has been promoted as a healthier alternative to sugar, may not be all that healthy, after all. The study in question linked sucralose to a possible increased risk of leukemia.
For the study, a group of Italian researchers at the Ramazzini Institute fed 457 male and 396 female mice various quantities of sucralose and then recorded what they described as “significantly increased” incidences of leukemia and other cancers, particularly in the male mice. These findings, which were published in the International Journal of Occupational and Environmental Health, seem to diverge from previous data, which suggested that sucralose has no biological effects at all.
The researchers were careful to not draw any conclusions based on the study and said that more studies would be necessary before drawing any conclusions about the safety of sucralose. However, they strongly suggested that, given the number of people who use sucralose worldwide, follow-up studies should be seen as “urgent” and conducted as soon as possible.
Sucralose is a very popular sweetener that is sold under the brand name Splenda. It was first discovered in 1976 by scientists from the University of London working with the sugar company Tate & Lyle. It was approved in the United States in 1998.
A number of food safety authorities have already come forward to call into question this and other studies conducted by the Ramazzini Institute. According to some, the Institute often conducts studies that use a design they describe as “unconventional” and because they sometimes fail to follow internationally-recognized standards for safety assessment.
Heartland Food Products Group, the makers of Splenda, also issued a statement after the release of the study, noting that most evidence, including more than 100 previous studies over a 20-year period, support the contention that sucralose is safe and is not carcinogenic. They point out that regulatory authorities around the world, including the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the European Food Safety Authority, Health Canada and the World Health Organization, have reviewed most of these studies and have confirmed that there is no link between sucralose and cancer.
Regardless of the studies done so far, this is a situation that needs to be studied more thoroughly and completely. Sucralose is used heavily, and is even recommended by doctors to patients who suffer a number of health conditions, including obesity and diabetes. If you or a loved one have consumed any food product and have been diagnosed with any sort of illness or life-altering medical condition, please contact the Food Product Safety Attorney atthe Hill Law Firm today, so that we can evaluate your case and help you protect your rights under the law.