Two More Consumer Groups Decry Splenda’s Misleading Advertising

Are ads for the artificial sweetener Splenda–that use the slogan "made from sugar so it tastes like sugar"–deliberately misleading?

Yet two more consumer groups–the latest in a number who’ve questioned ads for the sweetener—believe that consumers are being deliberately deceived.

Consumer First and the California Alliance for Consumer Protection asked the California state attorney general late last month to investigate potentially misleading advertising practices by  McNeil Nutritionals, a division of Johnson & Johnson, that markets Splenda.

In particular, a letter from consumer advocate Michael Ross and Jim Conran of Consumers called into question a series of ads that replace the word "sugar" with the word "Splenda," as well as references to the "Splenda plum fairy," and "Splenda and spice and everything nice."

"We are concerned that this is a deliberate attempt on the part of the makers of Splenda to fool consumers into believing they are ingesting a natural product when in fact it is chlorine based," Ross and Conran wrote.

"A food product made through a chemical process using chlorine in a chemical plant can hardly be considered natural," they continued.

The letter also cites a national Internet survey conducted by the Center for Science in the Public Interest, which found that nearly half of respondents wrongly believed that Splenda or the chemically created synthetic artificial sweetener is a natural product.

The two California groups are among a growing number of health and consumer advocates critical of Splenda’s marketing tactics, including Generation Green, the Organic Consumers Association, Florida Consumers Action Network, the Texas Consumer Association and the sugar industry, which put up a www.truthaboutsplenda.com website.

Splenda, which is manufactured by the British company, Tate & Lyle, and marketed in the U.S. by Johnson & Johnson subsidiary McNeil Nutritionals, is made by a multi-step, patented chemical process that manipulates the molecular structure of sucrose through chlorination and other processes.

As I’ve noted previously, after chlorination, a chemical called phosgene is added. Phosgene is described by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as "a major industrial chemical used to make plastics and pesticides," and which, at room temperature, is a "poisonous gas."

In my opinion, before you use Splenda, it’s important to review some of this recent information. From what I’ve read, I won’t ever touch the substance. But I urge you find out for yourself.

• Check out mercola.com’s "Is Splenda Making You Sick? Find Out Some Common Reaction Symptoms," the dangers of Splenda (sucralose), and extensive testimonials from people, who’ve experienced all kinds of post-Splenda health woes.
• Read Generation Green’s letter asking the Federal Trade Commission to investigate Splenda’s misleading marketing campaign. (The press release points out that the Splenda ingredient label doesn’t even list sugar as an ingredient, as is widely advertised.)
• Examine the website, TruthAboutSplenda.com. Ironically, this popular Internet spot — which presents some compelling research — is sponsored by the sugar industry, which is experiencing a drastic slowdown in sales, in large part, due to Splenda’s popularity and worries about obesity.
• Visit SplendaExposed.com from toxicologist Dr. Janet Starr Hull.
• And glance at the Sucralose Toxicity Information Center.

By filing the complaint, perhaps the California consumer groups believe they’ve found a kindred spirit in California’s attorney general Bill Lockyer.  In August, Lockyer sued McDonald’s, KFC, Burger King and the makers of Pringles and other processed potato products, for failing to warn consumers that their products produce a carcinogen called acrylamide when potatoes are cooked at high temperatures

Thanks to mercola.com for this tip.

Special thank to Jennifer Moore, for helping to research and write this post.