Saccharin: What is It?
The FDA has approved several non-sugar sweeteners to add a sweet flavor to foods and drinks without contributing calories.
Saccharin is the sweetener found in Sweet and Low as well as in certain beverages and fruit drinks. In animal research in the 1970s, saccharin was associated with the development of bladder cancer in rats, leading to safety concerns. However, since then, human studies have demonstrated that saccharin is safe for humans to consume.
While there is no strong evidence to indicate that approved non-sugar sweeteners have effects on health, potential harms cannot be ruled out. There are some concerns about how non-sugar sweeteners affect weight, taste perception, hormones and the gut microbiome (1, 2).
Learn more about non-sugar sweeteners here.
References:
Serra-Majem L et al. Ibero-American Consensus on Low- and No-Calorie Sweeteners: Safety, Nutritional Aspects and Benefits in Food and Beverages. Nutrients 2018;10:818.
Mozaffarian D. Dietary and Policy Priorities for Cardiovascular disease, Diabetes, and Obesity – A Comprehensive Review. Circulation 2016;133(2):187-225.
