A woman named T---- wrote to Johnson & Johnson Pacific about the experiences she and her husband had had with Splenda. Here are their stories and Johnson & Johnson's reply to them.
My husband N--- and I started to use Splenda approximately 7 months ago. We started to use Splenda as we were going on a diet to lose some weight and to better our health. We cut all sugars out of our diet. I am totally against artificial sweeteners, but I used your product because it claims that it is made from sugar.
We started to experience side effects within one month of having the product. We both believed it was sugar withdrawals. After a few months we were getting worse so we thought we would reintroduce sugar back into our diet. We got worse side effects so we stayed far away from sugar. It's funny now that we stopped using Splenda, sugar is not affecting us. We stopped taking the product on the 2nd of August. The symptoms we experienced are as follows:
T-----'s symptoms:
Dizziness
Lightheaded
Weak sensation in my muscles
Shortness of breath
Felt tired all the time
Eyes couldn't focus
Visual problems (cloudy)
Shaking (tremors)
Irritable, which was strange, I am not a contentious person.
Anxiousness
Heart palpitations -- serious
My short-term memory was lacking
Spotting around my ovulation time
Missed period
During period's - heavy cramping and bleeding, it felt like my contractions during labour.
Bloating
Abdominal pain
Gas
Constipated
Mental confusion (mild)
Mild hot flashes
Lower leg pain
Hip pain
Waking during the night feeling as if my heart had stopped. (saying my prayers)
Lots of vivid dreams, which is very uncommon for me.
The last week of having Splenda, I experienced seizure-like symptoms. My head felt as if a ping-pong ball was bouncing around inside my head. My mind was racing. I felt as if I could not control my thoughts. A foggy sense of doom was hanging around. I started having spiking pains in my temples that lasted only seconds as well as constant killer headaches.
I truly thought I was going insane, or worse - death. I also gained 4 kilos over the last month of using Splenda. After being off the product for 1 week today, almost all the symptoms have gone. I still get shaking (tremors) when I first wake up. I am also getting a feeling of being choked lightly. I can't seem to get enough air. I have also lost 2 kilos without dieting. I guess this would be due to not being constipated.
N---'s symptoms:
Dizziness - extreme, affected my work.
Lightheaded
Weak sensation in my muscles
Shortness of breath
Felt tired all the time
Eyes couldn't focus
Visual problems (cloudy)
Shaking (tremors)
My short-term memory was lacking
Mental confusion (mild),
Mild hot flashes
Lower leg and feet pain
Waking during the night feeling as if my heart had stopped.
Lots of vivid dreams
Ringing in my ears,
Cold feet
Anxiety attacks
My blood pressure was also recorded as high at the hospital, the day of one anxiety attack. Next day at my doctor's it was normal. I was prescribed Paxil. I did not take them. (I didn't believe I needed them. I am a Christian by faith, and I believed God would heal me.)
Anxiousness
Choking feeling
Bladder was bothering me - I had to go all the time and there was a lot of pressure on it.
Seizure-like symptoms. My head felt as if a ping-pong ball was bouncing around inside my head. My mind was racing. I felt as if I could not control my thoughts.
The last week of having Splenda, my feet began to hurt to the point where I was having a hard time standing at work. They tingled when I stepped out of bed in the morning.
The foggy sense of doom was hanging around.
I had spiking pains in my temples that lasted a while.
My pastor also recommended I seek counseling at my church. I have now canceled my appointment as I have my mind back. My pastor agrees.
Today, almost all the symptoms have gone. I still get shaking (tremors) when I first wake up. I am also getting a feeling of being bloated and have a lot of gas and am constipated. My legs feel week, and my feet still had a bit of pain. I feel like I have wakened up. My life over the last few months seem to be a daze. I can work again without any problems.
T----- received the following reply from Johnson & Johnson Pacific:
Johnson & Johnson Pacific
AUSTRALIA-FIJI-NEW ZEALAND
JOHNSON & JOHNSON PACIFIC PTY LIMITED A.C.N. 001 121 446
1 Bay Street Broadway N.S.W. 2007, AUSTRALIA
TELEPHONE:131 565, FACSIMILE: (02) 8260 8102
ADDRESS ALL COMMUNICATIONS TO:
LOCKED MAIL BAG NO. 5, BROADWAY 2007
CONSUMER@JJPAU.JNJ.COM
Dear T-----
Thank you for your emails. We also appreciated having had the opportunity of speaking with you about your experiences and your use of our SPLENDA* Brand Sweetener, as well as your husband's experience and his use of the product. We understand your concern and distress in relationship to the symptoms you described to us.
We assure you that our first priority is the health and safety of users of our wide range of products. The design, specifications, materials and production methods for all of our products are rigorously tested before any product is released for sale and we always endeavour to ensure our products meet the high standards you have come to expect from Johnson & Johnson. Also, our product packaging is subject to a thorough review process to ensure compliance with all relevant laws and regulations. We remain satisfied that all aspects of our packaging, including the use of the claim "made from sugar" are appropriate and that for the reasons set out below, warnings do not need to be included on the packaging.
Sucralose, or SPLENDA* Brand Sweetener, has been found safe for use by health and regulatory agencies around the world and it is permitted for use in over 80 countries. The results of over 100 scientific studies representing over 20 years of research has shown that sucralose is safe for use by the whole family. It also might be helpful for you to know that sucralose is not classified as an allergen. Research shows that it does not elicit, and would not be expected to elicit, allergic responses. In fact, according to our records since 2001, (our other records are archived), we have not received any reports of other consumers experiencing any of the symptoms of which you have complained. Consequently, it is most likely the case that your use of our product was unrelated to the symptoms you and your husband experienced.
Of course, however, as with anything that is consumed by humans, it is possible, in extraordinary and rare circumstances, for adverse reactions to take place in individuals. Whether you or your husband have had such a reaction probably could only be determined by a suitably qualified specialist.
In your email, you refer to an American website that you have come across; you also mentioned, in your initial email, a blog website that you had visited. We are aware of these and other kinds of websites that contain information that is simply untrue and not supported by the extensive body of scientific evidence and literature regarding sucralose safety. In fact, most of the information on this kind of website consists of unconfirmed anecdotes and rumours. For accurate and scientifically supported information about SPLENDA* Brand Sweetener products, you might like to visit our website at www.sucralose.org.
We thank you for the time you took to contact us and for providing us with your comments as we are interested in all matters raised in relation to our products. However, you will appreciate that, in the circumstances, we cannot accept that the symptoms reported by you are caused by our SPLENDA* Brand Sweetener. If you or your husband are concerned about your symptoms, we suggest you consult with a suitably qualified specialist.
We assure you of our best attention at all times.
Yours sincerely
MARILYN GRANT
Consumer Service Manager
CONSUMER@JJPAU.JNJ.COM
MAG/cl 000650664B
Monday, April 04, 2005
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16 comments:
I've read some of your comments on the sweetner Splenda. I do believe it can affect some individuals adversly, but I've used it for some time with no ill effects. Peanuts cause an adverse effect on people as well, and I don't believe that is a good reason to remove peanut butter from the market. It is all a matter of choice as far as I am concerned. I am a believer in using herbs rather than most modern medicine to treat health conditions wherever possible, and I do my best to keep my own body in good health. I cannot eat sugar and am glad to have the choice of using Splenda in moderation with no ill effects.
I have been using Splenda for my coffee and diet drinks for about 1 year now with NO side effects. I agree with Susan’s comments. It’s nice to have a choice. I have lost over 50lbs due to the use of Splenda and feel that it has saved my life. Should we remove sugar from the market since it has so many cal and cause kids and adults to gain weight and in effect sickness from being over weight? Again, that you for allowing us to have a choice.
Many thanks,
Steven
But maybe if they put some warnings on the packs that it may cause reactions in people it would give us a better choice of what to buy.
I would like to point out that I had several of these symptoms long before Splenda was around. I suffer from fibromyalgia. I didn't experience any new or worse symptoms with using Splenda.
There are lots of other things that could be causing any of the symptoms listed on this site. I hope everyong consults a doctor before just assuming they cause is Splenda. Also, remember that the mind is a powerful thing. As is the power of sugestion. Perhaps some people are experiencing a placeblo effect when they stop Splenda?
Yes, you can exhibit each of these symptoms from causes other than Splenda just as you can be cut with a knife, a sword, or a razor blade.
Many people can ingest Splenda (aka sucralose) without immediate effects. Some may never display effects. Other display effects within minutes or hours.
Those who experience ill effects may safely discontinue using Splenda without consulting a doctor. If the symptoms abate there is no reason to consult a doctor. However, everyone is free to consult a doctor anytime they choose.
The hundreds of cases of extreme debilitation followed by complete relief we have received are not likely to be psychosomatic given the common link to Splenda (also known as sucralose).
A few readers are missing the point here: We are not trying to convince anyone to do or not do anything. We are merely recording the experiences of Splenda (aka sucralose) users as we receive them--both positive and negative. That's all. After seeing the overwhelming proportion of negative experiences, please come to your own conclusions, and run your life as you see fit. You own yourself. You are responsible for yourself. You must make the decisions that affect you.
May you all make good decisions.
#1) The makers of splenda would never publish any kind of negative research on their website, just as drug makers would. Approx 80% of research on drugs is financed by the individual company trying to get the drug approved by the FDA. So of course they are going to say their product is safe.
#2) People are allergic to peanuts - now there are labels with warning on peanuts. We need warning labels for splenda - because like any other drugs, people can and will react to them negatively.
Johnson & Johnson went far beyond omitting the dangers of Splenda from their website. They actually tried to convince a consumer that no one else has ever complained to them about Splenda and that the symptoms were unrelated to Splenda. Here is the quote from Johnson & Johnson:
"In fact, according to our records since 2001, (our other records are archived), we have not received any reports of other consumers experiencing any of the symptoms of which you have complained. Consequently, it is most likely the case that your use of our product was unrelated to the symptoms you and your husband experienced."
The only reason that Johnson & Johnson would have to put a warning on the packaging is to reduce their legal liability and financial exposure. At the moment they believe they can make more money by selling Splenda to unwitting customers than they will have to pay in personal injury claims and other civil suits, so they are not concerned about issuing warnings to potential victims.
Once the lawsuits begin and damages are awarded, then Johnson & Johnson will reevaluate their business decision, and perhaps then they will add a warning to their product packaging.
Of course, now that Johnson & Johnson acknowledges that they have been well-informed about the many dangers to the public's health, the officers of the corporation are exposing themselves to criminal charges, which is a consideration that doesn't involve the balance sheet.
Note that other companies are involved in this matter as well, including McNeil Nutritionals, LLC, McNeil Consumer Healthcare, and Tate & Lyle. These companies are all guilty of claiming falsely that Splenda has "no known side effects" and "no toxicity, even in test diets simulating the sweetness of 40+ pounds of sugar per day for life."
To attempt to convince the consumer that they have nothing but the consumer's health and happiness foremost on their agendas, Tate & Lyle added this page to their website. As we can see from the reports of the many consumers whose experiences are documented here and at FoodAndDiet.com, Tate & Lyle's claims are, shall we say, deceitful.
Excuse me. Why is everyone jumping on the negative side? Makers of drugs include the side-effects on the commercials. You've all heard the, "May cause drowsiness, nausea...etc." And for Ambien, "Do not use or operate heavy machinery until yadda yadda yadda."
Splenda doesn't do this. Splenda is misleading the public. Just because you haven't experienced any side effects, or blamed them on something other than Splenda, doesn't mean no one experiences them.
Should we remove Sugar? What the hell are you sweetening your tea/coffee with, Missy? In excess, yeah, sugar adds a lot of calories. A spoonful, I've heard, is about 4 calories.
Unless you have gone to a doctor who can test you for an allergy to Splenda, I would suggest you may very well be allergic to another ingredient in the foods you consume or even a combination of ingredients. I drink approximately 6 to 8 diet sodas with Splenda every day, some days more, I have yet to have a allergic reaction in the past 3 years. A friend of mine claims he gets the rashes, but every food he eats that contains a sweetener, has Splenda in it. I think he may have a toxic level in his system due to the huge amount he consumes. Susan's comment about peanut allergy is right on. I would also say that people can be prone to rash for various reasons, such as stress, Shingles, and many other factors. Let's not jump on the band wagon and start clamoring for removal of Splenda from the world market just yet.
You can conduct your own sensitivity test.
Omit Splenda from your diet until all symptoms disappear. Then add Splenda back into your diet, and see if the same symptoms reappear.
Still not convinced? Try it again.
Can't believe the result of your test? Try it again.
If you have extra money that you want to donate to a medical office and some medical laboratories, take a day off from work and ask the doctor for his professional opinion.
Not convinced? Take another day off, and go to another doctor and another lab.
Be prepared to have the doctor write you some prescriptions for your symptoms. That's what Johnson & Johnson had in mind when they produced Splenda, and . . . that's what doctors do.
Thank you for sharing. Over the past 3 weeks I introduced Splenda into my diet without changing a single other thing. Suddenly I am itchy all over, can't sleep through the night, I feel disoriented, get hot flashes (I'm 31 : ) , bad headaces and I am very irritatble. I seriously didn't attribute it to Splenda b/c it's claim to be derived from sugar made it seem extremely safe. I'm reading a book called Skinny Bitch and it got me searching on the net here about the dangers of Splenda. Ah ha!! Done deal!! Thanks for helping to make me aware. I agree with blogger who made the peanut allergy analogy.... it shouldn't necessarily be banned... but there should be warnings of adverse events on a product that so CLEARLY effects a large % of the population in this fashion.
I googled Splenda and side effects because of terrible very, very early pms (almost post ms) breast pain on the outersides of both of my breasts. I was talking to a colleague of mine who said she has the same type of pain. She introduced me to using Splenda b/c she has recently started using it. We both also have been having terrible headaches at work all of the sudden and bad gas. Also, we both have increased cravings for sweets. The only thing that we have both changed recently is our intake of Splenda. It is only through this type of "anectodal" evidence that we consumers are aware of such very real side effects since J & J won't tell us about them.
Hi. I felt compelled to leave a comment. I had a recent experience which leaves me with no doubt that Splenda is toxic. I adhere to a very balanced, healthy diet, and usually only consume products which are organic (no dyes or preservatives or chemicals) and use only natural sweetners (agave nectar, honey, or cane juice) if any. I was recently gifted with a supplement drink product by a friend (part of an MLM thing she wanted me to try). I read the list of ingredients and 'sucralose' was among them - but I had no idea what it was. I've never had it. (I also didn't know that it was Splenda, or I would not have tried it, given what I know about it - and aspartame). So I drank one of the serving-size samples right then (the sweetness was awful-tasting). I didn't feel well almost immediately, but it wasn't enough to alarm me. I just thought I was tired. I had another one the next day. I immediately began to feel pretty ill - with some startling symptoms. Dizziness, agitation, numbness, severe headache, nausea, painful joints. I did some research and found out what I had actually consumed. I also found out that sucralose becomes a cocktail of toxic chemicals in the bloodstream. (Chlorine, methane...). I was shocked that anyone would put this into a 'health' product. I guess it's buyer beware. You know they have no idea what the long-term effects of this are. I attribute my reaction to sucralose to my body being relatively toxin-free. I imagine that if a person has been ingesting chemicals their whole lives, the effects are less noticeable. I take issue with anyone suggesting that this stuff is safe. It's not.
My husband is a diabetic, and is very careful to choose sweet foods that have only artificial sweeteners. He has had no adverse reactions until he started purchasing food items that had Splenda in them. He didn't even realize what was happening at first, because it was in such diverse foods as cookies, cake and ice cream. He then experimented with it, and purchased some items with Splenda, and some without. He always developed an extreme stomach ache with Splenda sweetened products, but not with any other artificially sweetened products. We wrote to the manufacturer, and explained the problems he was having, and got back a reply that Splenda was fully tested, and any problems he was having were obviously due to something else.
Now we find that there are only a handful of products that do not contain Splenda. He has given up trying to buy most manufactured foods, and has to be content with the few that he or I can make at home.
As far as I am concerned, there will always be some food items that certain people cannot or should not eat or drink. We all have various quirks of metabolism that preclude certain items. But for a company to just dismiss such problems as positively-just-couldn't-be-due-to-their-product is really arrogant and sad.
I would never advocate for the removal of Splenda from all items, but for the sake of my husband, I wish it weren't so widespread in most items. He can't even find a jam or jelly that doesn't have Splenda in it.
To blame Splenda or anything else on all this is crasy, they were around long before Splenda was ever thought of. I have been using it and like it a lot, for 7 years with no ill effects.
It has helped my blood sugar a lot, also my teeth love it, as do I.
Think I will keep right on using it.
However keep it up, your bound to scare a few people off of it.
Bad luck to you!!!
Shasta is now adding Sucralose (Splenda) to not only it's diet cola but their regular cola as well! Here is the contact information for Shasta Beverage Company Marketing Dept. 1-800-326-8640 Ext. # 3001 Bob Holsey or Chris in Promotions.
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