Americans Unsure About Artificial Sweetener Safety
A lot of Americans use artificial sweeteners but many are not convinced the products are healthy according to a new Harris Poll.
The study found that Americans are split on the importance of knowing what sweeteners are used. Half of Americans (50%) say it is extremely or very important to know what sweeteners are used when they are purchasing food and beverages while half (50%) say it is only somewhat or not at all important. Just under one-quarter of U.S. adults (22%) believe it is extremely important to know this information.
When it comes to sweetener safety a majority do believe artificial sweeteners are only somewhat or not at all safe.
Three in five Americans (61%) believe artificial sweeteners are only somewhat or not at all safe while one in five (21%) say they are extremely or very safe and just under one in five (18%) are not at all sure about the safety of these sweeteners.
The study found that even though many Americans may not believe these artificial sweeteners are completely safe most are not extremely concerned.
Just one quarter of Americans (23%) say they are extremely or very concerned about the amount of artificial sweeteners they and their family consume, with just one in ten (9%) extremely concerned;
Over three-quarters (77%) are only somewhat or not at all concerned about the amount of artificial sweeteners consumed, with over one-third (36%) not at all concerned.
The study also found that attitudes towards artificial sweeteners differs among age groups with older generations more curious about what sweeteners have been used to sweeten their food.
The older generations are more likely to want to know what is sweetening their food. Three in five (59%) Matures (those aged 63 and older) say it is extremely or very important to know versus two-thirds (65%) of Echo Boomers (those aged 18-31) who say it is somewhat or not at all important to know what is sweetening their food;
Matures are also most likely to believe artificial sweeteners are safe. Three in ten (29%) of the oldest generation believe they are extremely or very safe compared to one in five (22%) Baby Boomers (those aged 44-62), 20 percent of Generation X (those aged 32-43) and just 13 percent of Echo Boomers.
For those curious about artificial sweetener safety the National Cancer Institute offers a handy fact sheet. Part of the public's confusion with artificial sweetener safety is that there have been so many tests and many of the tests have had contradicting results. There have also been counterintuitive research results such as the research study earlier this year that found that rats fed food with saccharin added more body fat. You can read a few health articles about sweeteners here, here, here and here.
