Who should not eat artificial sweeteners?

Artificial sweeteners are a collective term for substances that give a sweet taste without adding calories. There are many types of artificial sweeteners, such as aspartame, sucralose, acesulfame K and cyclamate. These substances are approved as safe food and drink additives in Norway and the EU, but this does not mean that they are health-promoting or without side effects.

More and more research indicates that you should steer clear of artificial sweeteners, but some groups of people should be particularly careful about consuming artificial sweeteners, or avoid them altogether. These include:

  • People with phenylketonuria (PKU) should avoid consuming aspartame, a common artificial sweetener, as it contains phenylalanine which can be harmful to them. (American Dietetic Association, 2014; Food and Drug Administration, 2018)

  • People with diabetes who use insulin or medications to regulate blood sugar levels should be careful with artificial sweeteners that can affect blood sugar. (American Diabetes Association, 2021)

  • Pregnant women should limit their intake of artificial sweeteners to the recommended level, as excess intake can affect the fetus and their own health. (National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, 2020)

  • Children should not consume large amounts of artificial sweeteners as it can affect their growth and development. (American Academy of Pediatrics, 2019)

  • People with a history of allergic reactions to artificial sweeteners, should avoid them to avoid allergic reactions. (National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, 2021)

  • People with obesity, diabetes or metabolic syndrome. Artificial sweeteners may seem like a tempting way to reduce calorie intake and blood sugar, but it may not have the desired effect. Several studies have shown that artificial sweeteners can adversely affect the intestinal flora, hormone balance and appetite regulation, and thus contribute to weight gain, insulin resistance and inflammation in the body. It can also create a false need for sweetness, which can make it harder to cut back on sugary foods and drinks. It may be wise to focus on a varied and balanced diet with lots of vegetables, fruit, whole grains, legumes, nuts, seeds, fish and lean meat.

 

Artificial sweeteners are not a healthier alternative to sugar!

Artificial sweeteners are therefore not a healthier alternative to sugar, but rather an unnecessary additive that can have unfortunate consequences. It is better to get used to less sweetness in food, or use natural sources of sweetness that also provide nutrition and antioxidants. JustSweet which is a natural alternative to sugar can be a good alternative for those who must have the sweet taste. 

Do food producers share responsibility for harmful effects?

It is an important ethical question whether food producers who use artificial sweeteners have a shared responsibility for the harmful effects caused to the consumer who eats the products. Some may argue that food manufacturers have an ethical obligation to inform consumers of the risks of consuming artificial sweeteners and to limit their use in order to protect consumers' health.

Others may argue that it is the consumer's responsibility to examine the ingredients in the products they buy and to take responsibility for their own health. It is also important to remember that artificial sweeteners are regulated by governments and organizations such as the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which have set approved daily intake levels for artificial sweeteners.

Nevertheless, if food manufacturers are aware of the risks of overconsumption of artificial sweeteners and still choose to use them in large quantities in their products in order to increase sales, it can be argued that they have an ethical co-responsibility for any harmful effects that may be inflicted on consumers.

It is important that food manufacturers take responsibility for protecting consumer health and that governments and organizations continue to monitor the use of artificial sweeteners and their potential health effects to protect the public.

Sources/References:

Englund-Ögge L., Brantsæter AL, Haugen M., Sengpiel V., Khatibi A., Myhre R., Myking S., Meltzer HM, Kacerovsky M., Nilsen RM, Jacobsson B. (2012). Association between intake of artificially sweetened and sugar-sweetened beverages and preterm delivery: a large prospective cohort study. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 96(3): 552–559.

Azad MB, Sharma AK, de Souza RJ, Dolinsky VW, Becker AB, Mandhane PJ, Turvey SE, Subbarao P

American Academy of Pediatrics. (2019). The Use and Misuse of Artificial Sweeteners. Pediatrics, 143(1), e20190848. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2019-0848

American Diabetes Association. (2021). Non-Nutritive Sweeteners. https://www.diabetes.org/nutrition/healthy-food-choices-made-easy/non-nutritive-sweeteners

American Dietetic Association. (2014). Position of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics: Use of Nutritive and Nonnutritive Sweeteners. Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, 114(5), 735–742. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jand.2014.02.001

Food and Drug Administration. (2018). Additional Information about High-Intensity Sweeteners Permitted for Use in Food in the United States. https://www.fda.gov/food/food-additives-petitions/additional-information-about-high-intensity-sweeteners-permitted-use-food-united-states

National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. (2021). Food Allergy. https://www.niaid.nih.gov/diseases-conditions/food-allergy

National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. (2020). Artificial Sweeteners and Pregnancy. https://www.nichd.nih.gov/health/topics/pregnancy/conditioninfo/artificial-sweeteners

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