Approximately 180 million adult Americans use low-calorie and sugar-free foods and beverages, mainly for diabetes management, weight management, weight reduction, protection against dental cavity and for a healthy lifestyle. This month there is sweet news for these consumers as the sugar substitutes receives a strong endorsement from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The FDA has issued a fact sheet on sugar substitutes, and published it in the July/August issue of FDA Consumer magazine, carrying the headline, “No Calories… Sweet!”

In discussing safety aspects of the five FDA-approved sugar substitutes (aspartame, acesulfame K, neotame, saccharin and sucralose), the FDA fact sheet notes: “For each of the approved sweeteners, the typical amount used by U.S. consumers is well within designated ‘acceptable daily intake levels (ADI),’ or levels that can be consumed safely every day over a lifetime.“

Critics have questioned safety of sugar substitutes since their existence. One of the first sugar substitutes, saccharin, was discovered in 1879. An early attempt to ban saccharin came in 1911 when a board of federal scientists called the artificial sweetener "an adulterant" that should not be used in foods.

Lyn Nabors, president of the Calorie Control Council says, "The FDA Consumer article, along with other recent regulatory developments mentioned in the article, will hopefully put to rest some of the widely-circulated rumors about aspartame and sucralose in particular."

With regard to benefits, the FDA fact sheet cites the American Dietetic Association, stating, “Artificial sweeteners can help consumers cut down on calories and control weight, help to manage chronic conditions such as diabetes, and potentially prevent cavities.”

FDA site quotes, "American Heart Association endorses their use by diabetics and those on weight-loss diets. The American Diabetes Association calls sugar substitutes "free foods" because they make food taste sweet, but they have essentially no calories and do not raise blood sugar levels."

"Controlling calories with sugar-free and light foods and beverages, and adding some daily physical activity, are effective ways that consumers can make small changes to help them lose weight without feeling deprived," said Nabors.

For example, replacing full-calorie cranberry juice with light cranberry juice can save 140 calories a day. If that kind of calorie savings is maintained every day, it could result in a 15-pound weight loss at the end of the year. Choosing sugar-free chocolate will save 50 calories a day and translates to 5 pounds over the course of a year.