CNN Central News & Network-ITDC India Epress/ITDC News Bhopal: How dangerous is saccharin for your health? Know where it is used
Saccharin is an artificial, low-calorie sweetener used to provide sweetness in place of sugar. It is about 200 to 700 times sweeter than sugar and can provide sweetness in very small quantities. Its use in food and beverages is permitted in specified amounts and under prescribed conditions.
The biggest concern around saccharin has been linked to older cancer-related studies. In laboratory rats, a connection was observed between very high consumption and bladder tumours. However, later human studies did not find this link to be applicable to humans. According to the US Food and Drug Administration, based on available human studies, saccharin is considered safe for consumption in normal quantities.
The World Health Organization’s Joint Food and Agriculture Organization – World Health Organization Expert Committee on Food Additives has set an acceptable daily intake of 5 milligrams per kilogram of body weight per day for saccharin and its sodium, potassium and calcium salts. For example, for a person weighing 60 kilograms, this limit works out to 300 milligrams per day.
Saccharin may be used in some low-calorie beverages, table-top sweeteners, sugar substitutes, processed foods and some other food products. It may also be used in small quantities in some medicines and personal care products to improve taste.
However, replacing sugar with saccharin or any other non-sugar sweetener alone should not be considered a guaranteed way to lose weight. The World Health Organization has advised caution over the regular long-term use of non-sugar sweeteners for weight control. A balanced diet and attention to the overall quantity of sweet substances consumed are more important.
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