Splenda Factory Pollution

[cucina]

Wanted to share this rather disturbing article I read about the Splenda factory in Alabama and how they want to expand it. It is so scary to think all of these chemicals go into something we eat.

http://www.al.com/news/mobileregister/index.ssf?/base/news/1114334510292330.xml

[Chefzhat]

Gross, huh???

I've never used the stuff, but my mom does. She's always telling me how healthy it is, right up there with her Parkay.

Ugh.

[sneezles]

Originally posted by Chefzhat
Gross, huh???

I've never used the stuff, but my mom does. She's always telling me how healthy it is, right up there with her Parkay.

Ugh.

Knowing that some brittle diabletics rely on sugar substitutes I'm actually rather conflicted on the Splenda issue but I've no use for Parkay!!! ;)

[mrswaz]

I am not a fan of artificial sweeteners anyway, but it is a disturbing artice as far as all the secrecy goes. I'm sure there are many people who benefit from a product like Splenda (diabetics for example).

I did find it amusing that the sugar people are blaming Splenda for the decrease in sugar consumption. Hmmm- Maybe the consumers are just getting smarter and using less refined sugars on a daily basis.

[Paris M]

As someone who just gave up Splenda, I am quite glad that I did.

[mbrogier]

I gave up Splenda AND cut down on processed sugars along with other processed foods. I feel so much better after getting Splenda out of my system. The process of making splenda does concern me a bit. I wonder if in 20 years people who consume a lot of splenda don't have other health problems because of the chemicals that it contains. Those are some scary by products.

[ChristyMarie]

I also wonder about the long term affects of using all that artificial stuff. Very scary. I'd rather use a tiny bit of real sugar (granted, this is a pretty rare thing for me anyways) than consume some chemical.

I've had to follow the diabetic diet before (long story) and found I did just fine without any sugar. Just my .02

[oceanjasper]

Do you guys have any reliable sources for learning more about Splenda? I started using a little bit in my coffee at work and sometimes buy diet drinks with Splenda (I actually have a diet crush right in front of me :o). I would like to know what is being said about it. Thanks, if you can help!

[ChristieinMB]

I like splenda, I don't see anything in the article that tells me I should not consume it. Did I miss something?
Christie

[donleyk]

I'm missing something here too. The article is about air pollution. There is a company that is below their level of emissions. There are 2 huge polluters in the same area. Move the BBQ to one (or both) of these 2 places please and have them reduce the air pollution they're cranking out. Of course, I wouldn't want to eat the food.

[Paris M]

From the article, these were the two things that stood out to me:

But the air permit makes it clear that two dangerous and related chemicals, chlorine and phosgene, are integral to the production of Splenda. <snip> Both chemicals are widely used in industrial processes. Large quantities of chlorine are stored on railroad cars at the adjacent Olin Corp. chemical plant about a half-mile away and shipped daily through Mobile and other cities.

Tate & Lyle officials would not even acknowledge that the chemicals were part of its process.

For some comsumers, even the majority, this is perfectly acceptable because governments have deemed it safe. However, I now play by the rules that if I can't pronounce it and folks weren't eatin' it for at least a couple hundred of years, I am not interested in eating it beyond the occasion MIL-prepared pie at Thanksgiving. :D

[Beth Y]

Having spent 15 years of my life as an environmental lawyer, I agree with Christie and Donley, I really think ya'll are misreading this article if you think it says that these chemicals are in Splenda. What they are talking about are two things. One, the possible effect of the expansion of the Splenda plant on its ability to keep under the emission limits in its air permit (that is emissions into the surrounding air, not into the product) and; two, the amount of manufacturing/chemical sources in the area of McIntosh, the small town where this plant is located. It simple reality that any large scale food production (which is required to meet the food needs of a huge populated country like US) requires large machinery. That machinery needs something to run it, such as energy from boilers which the Splenda plant uses. Boilers have emissions, as they are fueled by coal or oil or whatever, which require air permits. Oompa Lumpahs are in short supply and manufacturing on a large scale requires machinery. Other chemicals are needed to clean equipment or simply make the product. If any of these chemicals are potentially harmful and are released to the environment, then those releases are monitored and regulated. I see no statement in the article that says that the Splenda factory is currently violating any of its environmental permits.

What is actually in the end product, Splenda, is not requlated by EPA or any other environmental agency, it is requlated by the FDA. I see no statement in the article that states that the end product contains any of these chemicals. The fact that chemicals are sitting on train cars in the same town can not put them in the product.

That said, I do not use Splenda or any other artificial sweetener because it is just that, artificial. I do question, based on nothing other than my own logic, the amount of long term testing that the company or the FDA could have been able to do on this or any other sweetener, other than saccharine, so I don't take a chance.

Just my two cents
Beth

[Paris M]

Beth, you could be completely correct in your assessment and your profession gives you more insight into this than my off-the-cuff guess. However, I have read that sugar proccessed with chlorine is how Splenda is made, therefore, it's nickname "left-handed sugar."

Originally posted by Beth Y
That said, I do not use Splenda or any other artificial sweetener because it is just that, artificial. I do question, based on nothing other than my own logic, the amount of long term testing that the company or the FDA could have been able to do on this or any other sweetener, other than saccharine, so I don't take a chance.

Well said and that's where I am at with my decision as well.

[Beth Y]

Paris, I know nothing about the actual process used to make Splenda, so you may be right. I have never researched the whole Splenda thing, I just think it taste artificial and I guess that knowing all the bad things that we are exposed to every day just breathing, I try to limit the artificial in the things I can control, like diet. I was just trying to say that the article really doesn't discuss what goes into the product.

I have heard similar things, totally third hand mind you, about the process for decaffinating coffee.

Although I try to eat, locally grown, organic food, due to the effect not only my diet and the environment, I try not to be naive and think that organic farms will ever be able to feed the huge population we have. Our society has simply grown too large and made land too valuable not to need factory farms. Could the factory farms be cleaner environmentally? Sure. But to think that everyone can eat local and organic is simplistic.

Now, that is not to say that "the masses" should not eat less processed food than they seem to "demand" or are led by advertising to demand, but I digress...........
How did I get going on this anyway???? This issue obviously a hot button for me...........sorry for the lecture!

[donleyk]

Beth,

I don't think you should apologize. The ball naturally started rolling and it was difficult for me to stop where I did. :D I could go on and on too....

[Beth Y]

Just be glad you are not at a dinner party with me after I have had a couple drinks! My other hot button is Moms who give their kids "fruit snacks" and Blues Clues pudding and think they are getting their kids to eat healthy. My husband has learned to change the subject before I get going..................................

[donleyk]

<Snort> we must have been separated at birth.... :D

[cucina]

Originally posted by Beth Y
Paris, I know nothing about the actual process used to make Splenda, so you may be right. I have never researched the whole Splenda thing, I just think it taste artificial and I guess that knowing all the bad things that we are exposed to every day just breathing, I try to limit the artificial in the things I can control, like diet. I was just trying to say that the article really doesn't discuss what goes into the product.


Beth, I totally agree with you that it does not specifically say that chlorine and phosgene are used in the making of Splenda, but I think it is implied, the writer just didn't spell it out that way. The line Tate and Lyle official would not even acknowledge that the chemicals were part of its process" is the line that does it for me.

[Judy/AZ]

My stepdaughter had some kettle corn made with Splenda and got a horrible reaction to it. She broke out in hives inside and outside of her body - she almost died - called 911 and got her to the hospital in time. She's doing fine now, but no more Splenda.

[badunnin]

Originally posted by Judy/AZ
My stepdaughter had some kettle corn made with Splenda and got a horrible reaction to it. She broke out in hives inside and outside of her body - she almost died - called 911 and got her to the hospital in time. She's doing fine now, but no more Splenda.

I'm sorry your stepdaughter had this reaction, but in reality, people have severe reactions to all sorts of things, both natural and man-made. I know of kids who will stop breathing at the smell of peanuts or popping corn, both of which are less artificial than Splenda. So, while Splenda may be evil, I don't think it's fair to villify it based on the fact that it causes a severe reaction in some people.

[Beth Y]

"I see no statement in the article that states that the end product contains any of these chemicals"

Cucina, I think you are now not only misreading the article, but also my statement. As noted above, I never said that the chemicals were not used in the process, I am sure there are lots of chemicals used in the process. I just said that it nevers says the chemicals are in the end product, the Splenda. The article is ONLY about pollutant emissions and do not mention the contents of the end product.

[Paris M]

Beth Y you sound like just the dinner guest I'd love to have over, LOL!

[cucina]

Originally posted by badunnin


I'm sorry your stepdaughter had this reaction, but in reality, people have severe reactions to all sorts of things, both natural and man-made. I know of kids who will stop breathing at the smell of peanuts or popping corn, both of which are less artificial than Splenda. So, while Splenda may be evil, I don't think it's fair to villify it based on the fact that it causes a severe reaction in some people.

Sorry for the confusion. I understand what you are saying. I guess the sounds of all those chemicals just has me on edge whether they are part of the end product or not.

[ChristyMarie]

Moms who give their kids "fruit snacks" and Blues Clues pudding and think they are getting their kids to eat healthy

YES!!! Or parents who feed their kids frozen chicken nuggets (not that the occassional nugget is horrible) or whatever and shrug and say "it is all they'll eat, they refuse anything else."

Um...did the fake nuggets magically appear in the freezer one day and cook themselves????

Parents and nutrition (or lack of) drives me insane.