Splenda

Splenda is a brand name for sucralose, an artificial sweetener. It is made from sugar through a process that replaces some of sugar's hydrogen-oxygen groups with chlorine atoms. This chemical change makes sucralose about 600 times sweeter than sugar and unable to be metabolized by the body for energy.

Manufacturers use sucralose as a zero-calorie sweetener in a wide variety of foods and beverages. It is often found in diet drinks, baked goods, dairy products, and tabletop sweeteners. Its stability under heat makes it suitable for cooking and baking.

Sucralose is approved by the FDA as a food additive and is generally recognized as safe (GRAS). Regulatory bodies like JECFA and EFSA have evaluated sucralose and established acceptable daily intake levels. While generally considered safe for consumption at typical levels, some studies have raised questions about its potential effects on gut health and metabolism, though evidence is mixed and more research is needed.