- Splenda Marketing Accused of False Advertising, Misleading Public
Many have questioned the accuracy of the marketing campaign for Splenda that reads: "Splenda No Calorie Sweetener is made from sugar, so it tastes like sugar."
In fact, Johnson & Johnson's McNeil Nutritionals, maker of the artificial no-calorie sweetener Splenda, has been slapped with a number of lawsuits accusing the company of falsely advertising Splenda and deceiving buyers into believing it is a natural product. Lawsuits have been filed by:
* Individuals (three state consumer class action suits)
* The Sugar Association
* Merisant Worldwide Inc, maker of low-calorie sweetener Equal
Made From Sugar?
Those filing the lawsuits argue Splenda's marketing campaign does not truthfully reflect the end product, which is created with chlorine and does not have sugar in it. Even Splenda's Web site (www.splenda.com) states that the artificial sweetener starts with sugar, yet is converted into a no-calorie, non-carbohydrate sweetener. This process selectively replaces three hydrogen-oxygen groups on the original sugar molecule with three chlorine atoms.
In response to the accusations against them, a spokeswoman for McNeil stated the lawsuits have no merit, as the company has never represented Splenda as being natural. Moreover, despite feuding claims, Splenda holds just over 50 percent of the U.S. market for low-calorie sweeteners, based on dollar volume.
- Business Week - http://www.businessweek.com/technology/content/feb2005/tc2005022_7832_tc024.htm
- Dr. Mercola - http://www.mercola.com/2000/dec/3/sucralose_dangers.htm#
also - http://www.mercola.com/2004/jan/10/splenda_questions.htm
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