Posted on 01/31/2005 8:19:42 AM PST by ladtx
Press Release
| Source: Texas Consumer Association |
Texas Group Takes Aim at Splenda's Campaign of Misinformation
Monday January 31, 11:01 am ET
"With consumers across the country concerned about their health and trying to eat more natural foods, it is alarming that McNeil is engaged in an underhanded campaign to confuse consumers into believing Splenda is natural," commented Sandra Haverlah, president of the Texas Consumer Association.
The Texas Consumer Association asked the FTC to step in and mandate that McNeil provide consumers with accurate and truthful information about Splenda.
McNeil has no foundation for the claims it is making in its deceptive ads, since Splenda is not a natural derivative of sugar. What's more, it is not even necessary to use sugar to manufacture Splenda.
"McNeil's campaign is a sham," Haverlah asserted. "It's time for the FTC to investigate."
McNeil's deception, however, has begun to have a significant impact: Splenda has grabbed almost 40% of the U.S. consumer sweetener market, taking market share not just from artificial sweeteners, but also from natural sugar.
Splenda's success in the marketplace comes as Texas and the rest of the country grapple with a growing obesity crisis. Thirty-five percent of children in Texas are overweight or obese, according to the Texas Agriculture Commission, and childhood obesity in Texas has doubled over the past 20 years.
Haverlah said that many consumers are purchasing Splenda based on a belief that it is in some way "more natural" than -- and therefore preferable to -- other artificial sweeteners or food additives.
"Consumers should be given the truth about the products they buy and eat, and McNeil is trying to pull the wool over consumers' eyes," Haverlah continued. "This campaign of misinformation must be stopped."
Sandra Haverlah, President of Texas Consumer Association, sent the following letter, dated Jan. 31, to the Division of Advertising Practices, Bureau of Consumer Protection, at the Federal Trade Commission:
Consumers in Texas and across the country deserve to be told the truth about the food they eat and the products they buy. That's why it's so alarming that throughout the course of its marketing campaign, Johnson & Johnson company McNeil Nutritionals has been attempting to confuse consumers into believing that its artificial sweetener Splenda is a natural product by linking Splenda to sugar. It's up to the Federal Trade Commission to ensure that the information provided to us through advertising is accurate. The Texas Consumer Association therefore asks the FTC to fully investigate this misleading advertising campaign and stop McNeil from continuing its campaign of misinformation.
By continually using the word "sugar" in its advertisements and in its packaging, McNeil is attempting to link Splenda and sugar in consumers' minds. But McNeil has no foundation for its claims. Splenda isn't natural. On the contrary, it is a man-made artificial sweetener formed by a complex chemical reaction.
With obesity at an all-time high in the U.S. and the low-carbohydrate diet phenomenon remaining strong, Splenda has grabbed almost 40% of the U.S. consumer sweetener market share. An increasing number of consumers are purchasing Splenda based on their belief that it is in some way "more natural" -- and therefore more healthy -- than any other artificial sweetener or food additive.
Consumers need to understand that developing good, healthy eating habits will lead to weight loss. This is especially important for children, who are developing eating habits they will carry with them throughout life. Thirty- five percent of children in Texas are overweight or obese, according to the Texas Agriculture Commission. Childhood obesity in Texas has doubled over the past 20 years. These are startling statistics.
Luckily, Texas schools have started to take constructive steps toward helping students eat better. Like the latest edition of the U.S. Dietary Guidelines, the state of Texas is recommending eating natural, whole grain foods, fruits and vegetables.
Given the state and national push for healthy, natural foods, it is greatly disturbing that McNeil would try to confuse and mislead consumers into believing that Splenda is natural. Even more troubling, many of Splenda's new advertisements focus on children and many of the new foods that include Splenda are juices, cereals, and snacks children tend to eat. In its recent letter to the FTC on this topic, Generation Green noted that these ads aim to encourage children to eat low-sugar products suggesting that "low sugar" and "with Splenda" means the product is healthier. The Texas Consumer Association shares Generation Green's concern that this misleading marketing campaign is hindering the ability of parents to make informed, health-guided decisions about the food they buy for their families.
It's time for McNeil to stop misleading the public. The Texas Consumer Association strongly urges the FTC to investigate this advertising campaign and instruct McNeil to tell the truth about Splenda.
Yes, but don't worry, you wont know about that for another 15-20 years.
Then maybe the Consumers Group is actually an anti-nuke group.
Stevia has a flavor, which is fine with me in tea or something but in coffee...ick!
I suppose I should learn to drink my coffee black/no sugar, like a man....
sundero
Texas Consumer Association = trial lawyers brainwashing future members of juries.
-PJ
My wife is a psych major and had to do an experiment with rats in Rat-Lab. She tested the rats to see if they would choose Sugar (nutritional) vs Splenda (no nutritional value). The rats couldn't tell them apart. I think she should either publish her paper or sell it to Splenda. We like Splenda. We are both doing Atkins and it works!
I've been using Splenda since 2001 and have had no problems with it. Splenda is made from sugar, it tastes like sugar and does somewhat cook like sugar.
For me, it's worth it. I've managed to loose a great amount of weight, keep it off and am no longer a couch potato. I give some of the credit to this loss to using Splenda.
This group seems to have an agenda. Notice they do not give any evidence for supposed deceptive advertising of Splenda, just that it is deceptive. Their claim that linking Splenda to sugar falls flat when someone looks at how Splenda is made and from what (sucrose is sugar last time I took any organic bio or chem classes).
I'll stick to my bright yellow bags for daily sweeting needs, thank you very much!!!
I use it because it TASTES better than the other artificial sweeteners, and I don't want the calories and carbs of sugar.
http://befreetech.com/aspartame.htm
Aspartame is a toxic substance - many chemists consider it a poison.
Texas Consumer Association was once run by Jim Hightower, and is basically a bunch of lefty, tree-hugging, Austin based nutcakes.
In other words - aging, embittered hippies with little to do in a state run by Republicans.
Note that the press realease doesn't argue with the benefits of Splenda, only that it is "not natural".
Me,too....I recall a run-in with a bag of sugar-free gummy bears,and afterwards I felt like that cartoon character that swallows a big bomb.....KA-POW!
That pretty much did it. :P
I agree. It builds up levels in your body over time that can affect many things. I have friends affected.
Splenda ping
Note the nutty links on the page you posted.
I don't know. After getting splitting headaches from Aspartame, I've been afraid to try any artificial sugars. I'm learning to love the taste of foods and drinks without it--or splurge once in awhile when chocolate cake becomes irresistable. (But only once in awhile!)
dogs will drink anti-freeze till they die. It tastes sweet. Do rats appreciate Haute Cuisene better than dogs?
Maltitol is a sugar alcohol, and is not counted in the carb count of a food (for low card dieting purposes). I guess because it's not digested? I'm not positive about that. But it may have, as it says, a ''laxative'' effct. Well, you better believe they aren't just whistling Dixie when they say that!!!!
It's in most of the low carb candies you will find out there.
sundero
Thanks for the info.
I've read that Splenda is one of the few sweeteners that doesn't cause an insulin spike like Nutrasweet does. For that reason it is hailed by the Atkins followers.
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