FDA approves sucralose sweetener

Food & Drink Weekly, August 23, 1999

McNeil Specialty Products Company received approval from FDA to market its new low-calorie product, sucralose (Splenda brand), as a general purpose sweetener. Splenda now can be used to sweeten all food and beverage products, as well as nutritional supplements, medical foods, and vitamin and mineral supplements.

FDA's most recent action comes 16 months after initial regulatory approval for the food ingredient in April 1998. At that time, FDA granted approval for use of sucralose in 15 food and beverage categories including baked goods and baking mixes, beverages, dairy products, processed fruits and fruit juices. The expansion from FDA includes breakfast cereals, confectioneries such as hard candies and chocolate bars, and condiments like ketchup.