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From Dr. Janet Starr Hull's
Health Newsletter, December 2003
The following interview was conducted with Dr. Janet Starr Hull on the
safety of sucralose found in Splenda.
Q: What exactly is Splenda?
A: In a simple sentence, you would
just as soon have a pesticide in your food as sucralose because sucralose
(Splenda) is a chlorocarbon. The chlorocarbons have long been known for
causing organ, genetic, and reproductive damage. It should be no surprise,
therefore, that the testing of sucralose reveals that it can cause up to
40 percent shrinkage of the thymus: a gland that is the very foundation of
our immune system. Sucralose also causes swelling of the liver and
kidneys, and CALCIFICATION of the kidney. Note: if you experience kidney
pain, cramping, or an irritated bladder after using sucralose in Splenda,
stop use immediately.
Q: So sucralose is not found as a
natural compound in nature, like real sugar?
A: Absolutely not. No sugar molecule
is compounded with chlorine anywhere in nature.
Q: Do you know how it is made in the
laboratory?
A: I found this information from a
statement from the manufacturer, actually. 'Sucralose is made from sugar,
but is derived from sucrose (sugar) through a process that selectively
substitutes three atoms of chlorine for three hydrogen-oxygen groups on
the sucrose molecule. No artificial sweetener made in the laboratory is
going to be neither natural to the body nor safer than unprocessed sugar',
they claim.
People need to stop searching for excuses to eat all the junk food they
want without penalty. In the long run, no one benefits from this product
but the corporations.
Q: The corporate researchers claim
that the chlorine atoms are so tightly bound; they create a molecular
structure that is exceptionally stable under extreme pH and temperature
conditions. Do you agree?
A: They are testing these conditions
in lab rats, and these types of corporate studies have forced and
'selective' results, in my opinion. Aspartame research is the proof of
this!
Test these chemicals on a child and see how stable it is--but that
would be cruel. So, why then do we buy it and give it to our children? I
don't buy into manufacturers' claims when it comes to human beings using
ANY man-made chemical. Plus, I have learned over the past 25 years of
aspartame research to value independent research above that which is
funded by corporations.
Q: The corporations say sucralose is
safe.
A: They said the same thing about
aspartame, and look at the rampant disease and obesity taking over America
since aspartame was put into the food supply over 20 years ago.
Q: Can sucralose cause cancer?
A: Any animal that eats chlorine
(especially on a regular basis) is at risk of cancer. The Merk Manuel and
OSHA 40 SARA 120 Hazardous Waste Handbook states that chlorine is a
carcinogen and emergency procedures should be taken when exposed via
swallowing, inhaling, or through the skin.
It all depends upon how much you use and how often, your present and
past health status, and the degree of other toxins you are putting inside
your body. Good luck with this one …
Q: Sucralose has been thoroughly
tested, they claim. Actually they have stated that sucralose is the most
tested food additive in history. I quote, " … more than 100 studies on the
safety of sucralose designed to meet the highest scientific standards have
been conducted and evaluated over the course of 20 years. "
A: I don't believe that for a second.
They stated verbatim the same thing about aspartame. We are looking at the
same scenario in so many ways. As with NutraSweet, no human studies,
corporate payrolled researchers, selective result reporting, government
involvement and personal financial interests and controlled media. I will
say that sucralose is not as dangerous as aspartame.
Q: Splenda is approximately 600 times
sweeter than sugar. How can that be?
A: As I stated before, the product is
a forced product, not a natural sugar the body uses for fuel. People
forget that sweetness is a by-product of foods--a bonus so to say. Forced
sweetness, revved-up sweetness, and artificial sweetness--all altered
foods that are a trap for people to get addicted to the sweeter tastes.
People with eating disorders, children who are just learning about food,
and people with illnesses are all being 'sold a bill of rubbish' in my
opinion.
Q: The manufacturer claims sucralose
doesn't react with other substances in the body and is not broken down in
the body.
A: They claimed the same thing about
saccharin, even though I feel saccharin is the only artificial sweetener
with true merit. To answer your question, if the body is digesting
properly, anything you put into the body will be assimilated. If it
happens to be rancid, the stomach will throw it out immediately by
vomiting or diarrhea. It is totally out of the realm of biological science
to think the body will not immediately attack a toxic chemical.
Henceforth, migraines from aspartame and diarrhea from Splenda.
Now, to add a note to this: if the body is fed an indigestible product
such as plastic (like in margarine) that it is incapable of dissolving
through normal digestion, it will pass through undigested (if it doesn't
get stuck in the gall bladder, that is.) So, if sucralose is indigestible
due to its laboratory compounding, then we have yet another serious health
problem to consider, don't you think?
Technology is great, but we sure don't need to be eating it!
Q: The U.S. Food and Drug
Administration and government food authority committees and the Health
Ministries in countries such as Canada, Mexico, Dominican Republic,
Jamaica, Trinidad & Tobago, Argentina, and Brazil have confirmed the
safety of sucralose. So have the countries of Colombia, Peru, Venezuela,
Uruguay, Romania, Lebanon, Qatar, Bahrain, Pakistan, Tajikistan, China,
South Africa, and Tanzania. What do you think of all these countries
confirming Splenda's safety?
A: The history of aspartame has
unfortunately proven that individuals within government agencies cannot
and should not be trusted to make such empowering public decisions behind
closed doors.
Now, re-read this list of countries … Mexico, Jamaica, Tajikistan and
Tanzania? These are the countries in which Splenda is now marketed? (See
the final question.) As an international geographer, I can comfortably say
that these countries are not nations with the same technology and mass
marketing strategies to be compared with the United States. These
countries are more concerned with birth control, food staples, hostile
take-overs, and drought--not diet sweeteners. Compare apples to
apples.
Q: Is sucralose safe for
children?
A: The manufacturer actually made
this statement for disclosure: "One should note, however, that foods made
with low-calorie sweeteners are not normally a recommended part of a
child's diet, since calories are important to a growing child's body."
Pay attention … Children should not be encouraged to grow up on fake
foods. But just like cigarettes and alcohol, do what I say and not what I
do? And we wonder why the younger generation is angry, ill, and ridden
with ADD/ADHD and diabetes?? How many kids do you see taking a sip of mom
or brother's diet cola?
Q: Who manufactures and markets
sucralose?
A: McNeil Specialty Products Company
(MSPC), a wholly owned subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson, along with
Tate & Lyle PLC, a world leader in sweeteners and starches, all share
responsibility for developing and manufacturing sucralose for commercial
use. Sucralose is the first product from McNeil Specialty, whose mission
is to develop and market innovative food ingredients that help consumers
control, maintain and improve their health. Internationally, McNeil
Specialty markets sucralose in the United States, Canada, Latin America,
the Caribbean, Australia, New Zealand, and the Middle East; Tate &
Lyle markets sucralose in Africa, Asia, Europe and Canada.
Internationally, McNeil Specialty markets sucralose under the name
SPLENDAR Brand Sweetener. SPLENDAR is a registered trademark of McNeil
Specialty Products Company.
Dr. Mercola's Comment:
This is an excellent interview and one that I encourage you to read
carefully if you think Splenda is safe to use.
Please note that I do not advise using Splenda. Over three years ago
I posted an article describing the dangers of Splenda
(sucralose).
Why not use Splenda? Well, research in animals has shown that
sucralose can cause many problems such as:
- Shrunken thymus glands (up to 40 percent shrinkage)
- Enlarged liver and kidneys
- Atrophy of lymph follicles in the spleen and thymus
- Increased cecal weight
- Reduced growth rate
- Decreased red blood cell count
- Hyperplasia of the pelvis
- Extension of the pregnancy period
- Aborted pregnancy
- Decreased fetal body weights and placental weights
- Diarrhea
Nearly every month we receive a report from someone who has had an
adverse reaction to Splenda, and you can see many of these
reports posted on our site.
I also encourage you to take a look at the links below to get a
thorough understanding of the dangers Splenda poses to your
health.
Related Articles:
Splenda’s
Dangers: One Man’s Personal Story That You Should Know
The Potential
Dangers of Sucralose
The Dangers of Chlorine
and Issues With Sucralose
Splenda is Not a
"Healthy" Sweetener
Sucralose
(Splenda®) U.S. Product
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