The Debate Around the Usage of Saccharin in the Food Industry

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Journal of Industrial Mechanics e-ISSN: 2582-1067 Volume 4 Issue 3

The Debate around the Usage of Saccharin in the Food Industry

Farah Bani Affan* Professor, Department of Chemical Engineering, Koya Univeristy, Koysinjaq, Iraq Email: *[email protected] DOI: http://doi.org/ 10.5281/zenodo.3579910

Abstract Over the past 100 years, Saccharin has been widely used as an alternative to natural sugar in industrial food and drinks. However, concerns have been raised regarding its safety in terms of human intake. This paper aims to explore whether Saccharin has a negative impact on the human health. The key controversial issue that is investigated in this paper is the effect of Saccharin on health, both as a carcinogenic and weight-gain substance. The USA and Canada governments’ reactions toward introducing Saccharin in the food industry are also considered. Based on a range of experimental studies, this paper confirms not only the absence of the negative consequences, cancer and weight-gain, but also its positive effect on controlling or even decreasing human body-weight. This paper also concludes that different governments react differently regarding the introduction of Saccharin depending on the available studies. However, further research regarding the economic opinions could add more weight to the controversy.

Keywords: Artificial food additives, cancer, health, saccharin, sweeteners

INTRODUCTION the allegations have differed among Artificial sweeteners as sugar alternatives researchers in terms of whether Saccharin have been widely used all over the world causes cancer in humans in addition to rats in the past 100 years due to the fact that and mice. Another debatable issue is the they are both of zero calories and hundred body-weight. Many researchers claim that times sweeter than natural sugar. This Saccharin intake increases the body- paper aims to shed some light on weight, while others state that consuming Saccharin as a major type of artificial Saccharin does not only help to control the sugar alternatives because of the fact that it body-weight but also to lose weight. has become the most popular artificial Governments have also played a major sweetener around the world soon after its role for being responsible for the public origination. Saccharin has been discovered safety. Rules of banning and allowing the by a Russian chemist in 1878, and it has usage of Saccharin in food products are been commonly used in food industries, made by the governments after further drinks and tablets [1]. investigation under advanced experimental work. At the time when Saccharin intake increased rapidly among people, concerns The aim of this paper is to explore the have been raised regarding the safety of debate surrounding the introduction of consuming Saccharin on the public health Saccharin into the public diet in order for [2]. Many studies and much research have Saccharin intake to be clearly defined and been conducted to examine the extent to unambiguous. The study will be limited to which Saccharin affects human bodies. the health and government perspectives The results have been controversial and due to the restrictive number of words.

Journal of Industrial Mechanics e-ISSN: 2582-1067 Volume 4 Issue 3

After a brief background and context made it clear that Saccharine was section in which the historical emergence harmless, when his body showed no side of Saccharin will be provided along with effects after 24 hours of having one dose the early events concerning Saccharin [4]. In post-World War II, health science intake, this paper will try to discuss the tried to conduct experiments on animals main controversial issues in terms of for longer periods of time to inspect consuming Saccharin. Firstly, the health whether Saccharin is a cancer-causing aspect will be examined based on a wide substance. The results were complex and range of experimental evidence regarding not clear enough to judge [4]. Sometime the relation between Saccharin and cancer, after the war, the American lifestyle and Saccharin and body-weight. Then, the encouraged Americans to depend more on governmental role will also be explored, outdoor meals. Consequently, they headed hopefully, to point towards how different towards presweetened meals in particular. countries react to the evidence provided by Consuming large amounts of presweetened their experts. The response of the industrial food drew the attention of American and Canadian governments will nutrition experts and health officials, who be presented, and a comparison will be raised concerns about the probability of made in order to provide a clear picture on gaining weight. In 1957, these doubts the safety of Saccharin intake. directed some Americans towards criticizing their meals [4]. BACKGROUND The origin of the first sweetener emerged By 1958, the USA government started to in 1878, when Constantin Fahlberg, a play a guiding role in this respect. The Russian chemist, was working on American Congress developed the Food producing sugar from chemicals [1]. By Additives Amendment with the assistance accident, he spilled his experiment mixture of the scientific community. It was at that on his hands. Later that night, he noticed a time and place where the fear of cancer as sweet taste on his hands and that moment a side effect appeared. Hence, the was the discovery of the first commercial Congress forced the American Food and alternative to natural sugar, Saccharin [3]. Drug Administration (FDA) to forbid Saccharin is three hundred times sweeter using Saccharine in food [4]. Hodgin [3], than natural sugar. The new finding Nakanishi [5] and Demers [6] state that it attracted people‟s attention, especially was in 1960 when Saccharine was when Fahlberg started to use it in drinks, suggested to cause bladder cancer in rats, both as a sweetener and preservative. and the FDA was obligated to restrict its Saccharin became even more popular use. A study at the University of when it was presented in the form of Wisconsin also supported the fact that powder and pills. Furthermore, it was Saccharine causes bladder cancer among recommended by medics to treat rats who consume it regularly every day. headaches and nausea, to name but a few Accordingly, in 1972, the FDA prohibited [1, 4]. From 1914 onwards, the usage of the Use of Saccharine in food in America, Saccharin significantly increased, notably which resulted in economic and financial in America and Europe [1]. issues [4]. However, 1979 witnessed an important milestone in the history of Despite the popularity of Saccharine at Saccharine, as 44 million people asked for that time, people seemed to have concerns the reintroduction of Saccharine in food regarding whether it affects health [3]. A [4]. As a result, the consumption of few years after his discovery, in 1882 to be Saccharine was restated as harmless in precise, Fahlberg tested his invention. He 2000, when the National Institute of

Journal of Industrial Mechanics e-ISSN: 2582-1067 Volume 4 Issue 3

Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) many researchers confirm that Saccharin is clarified that the experiments performed safe to be consumed, while some others on rats were „a poor analog‟ for human claim that its use should be banned or intake [4]. The sequence of addressing restricted for being carcinogenic. Most of barriers and lifting them affected the studies are based on experiments negatively on the popularity of Saccharine which have been conducted on rats. as the sole artificial sweetener, where new Although it is found to be resulting in types emerged, for instance Aspartame and bladder cancer in male rats, no real Acesulfame in the mid-1960s, and evidence has been provided to indicate that Neotame in 2002 [4]. it is hazardous on the human organs.

CRITICAL DISCUSSION Early studies [7], highlight that as long as The Effect of Consuming Saccharin on the Food and Drug Administration labels Health the food which contains Saccharin with a The very fundamental issue regarding warning statement, it indicates the Saccharin consumption is the seemingly probability of cancer risk. In their negative impact on individual‟s health. research, Kennedy and Winn [7] The most controversial issue raised has to investigate the risk of Saccharin in two do with the link between the intake of different methods: Animal tests and Short- Saccharin and cancer. Although many term tests, from which they conclude that a researchers have claimed that consuming risk on human can be predicted. Saccharin results in bladder cancer in rats Furthermore, Clapp [2] strongly argue that [7], a great deal of evidence provided by the use of Saccharin in food industries other scientists has confirmed that it has no should be prohibited for many reasons. harmful effect on humans [1, 8]. Firstly, allowing consuming Saccharin, Additionally, another concern has been which is defined as a substance which presented in terms of weight-gain. Some „may‟ cause cancer in humans, can poses a research indicates that Saccharin causes an risk of cancer to millions of people, increase in the body weight [9]. However, including children, where no law is later studies reveal contradicting findings; exposed to control the amount of not only does Saccharin help in controlling consumption. Secondly, consuming the body weight but it also helps in Saccharin in rats and mice has been found decreasing it [10]. to cause cancer not only in the bladder but also in the uterus and skin. Thirdly, some Saccharin as a Carcinogenic Substance studies on human have also shown a The people consumption of Saccharin has relationship between consuming Saccharin increased according to the fact that and Bladder cancer. Conversely, Whysner Saccharin is present in most of their meals and Williams [11] state that the [4]. A great deal of intensive experimental experiments conducted on male rats were studies has been conducted by health for a lifetime period from birth. They also specialists over the past decades in order to bring the attention to that the doses-level is investigate the level of safety of far from risk and incomparable to humans. consuming Saccharin, and to explore whether it is a cancer-causing substance Despite the fact that there is much research which might expose a threat on the human indicating the possible hazard of body. After carrying out the research consuming Saccharin in human, the results and studying the findings, the mentioned studies, in addition to the aid of safety on consuming Saccharin have been modern technology, criticize them and found to be a controversial issue, where confirm the safety of Saccharin

Journal of Industrial Mechanics e-ISSN: 2582-1067 Volume 4 Issue 3 consumption. In 2008, Dr. Ying [12] has evidence. Although some researchers published an article in which he states that suggest prohibiting the use of Saccharin as different studies over the past decades an artificial sweetener in the industrial show „mixed results‟ where opinions have food for being cancer-causing, others been varied whether Saccharin is confirm its safety. The major difference carcinogenic. Ying [12] strongly confirms between the two types of studies can be that no real evidence has ever been contributed to the fact that the former provided in order to ban or prohibit the use studies are based on animal tests which do of Saccharin, where the previous not afford realistic results, whereas the experiments have implied hundreds of latter are relying on a wide range of times higher-doses of Saccharin than the experimental work including different normal human intake, which makes them organs of a large number of people for a ineligible. long period of time.

Another strong position is provided by Saccharin as a Weight-Gain Substance Bosetti [13]. They approve in their The consumption of Saccharin is also a experimental research, which has been controversial issue in terms of weight gain. carried out in Italy, the absence of the Although many studies claim that carcinogenic effect of Saccharin in human Saccharin usage should be banned or bodies. For a period of more than a prohibited in food industries, others have decade, Bosetti [13] have conducted their confirmed not only its safe impact on experiment engaging 3117 individuals health but also its benefits in losing and between incident patients with stomach, controlling body weight. However, pancreas, and endometrium cancer, along Saccharin has been verified to have a with the cases of the corresponding favorable impact on human bodies. Early controls. The later research provides studies have reported that Saccharin might concrete evidence and inevitable results have reverse metabolic impact [14]. Only confirming that Saccharin does not pose two out of seven studies on animals have any threat to humans. O‟Donnell and shown an increase in the blood glucose Kearsley [8] stated that „an equivalent after the intake of Saccharin, however, rigorous and extensive safety studies‟ have soon after, another study confirmed that in been conducted involving both animals the in the case of the two contradictory and humans to ensure the safety of studies the results were observed when consuming Saccharin. The studies have only the rats were subjected to Saccharin resulted in the fact that the level of doses is consumption over a long period of time. the key for determining Saccharin‟s safety- consumption, therefore, an international After reviewing other research, Rosenman daily intake level of doses, in which [14] strongly underlines the implications Saccharin should be used, has been of banning Saccharin on health. He came introduced [8]. with the idea that prohibiting Saccharin can negatively affect the consumers who To summarize, different studies on may substitute their diet soda, which different organisms with different findings contains Saccharin, with drinks with have been conducted seeking an official natural sugar resulting in 36 more pounds status regarding the relationship between for the individual per year. The main Saccharin and cancer. Science and conclusion to be drawn from this study is technology development over time have that Saccharin has no adverse effects on contributed reliable experimental work on dietary adherence. According to Rogers human organs and resulted in significant [15], Saccharin can be distinguished from

Journal of Industrial Mechanics e-ISSN: 2582-1067 Volume 4 Issue 3 other artificial sweeteners for the fact that patients who are facing diabetes, as a it passes through the body unchanged (a result of being free from both calorie and non-metabolized substance). For Saccharin carbohydrate. Thirdly, it draws the to be labeled as a safe substance to attention to the fact that Saccharin has safe consume, it is referred to this use reports on humans over the past 100 characteristic. When the substance leaves years. Lastly, and as Rogers [15] states, no traces in the body it means that it does the CCC has also pointed out to the non- not increase the person‟s weight, digestive features of Saccharin to indicate especially when this substance is of zero that it does not add calories to the diet. calories per 145 mg [15]. Although the CCC is a Saccharin sponsor, it conveys facts that other studies agree In the later years many studies and much with. research have been carried out to further investigate the concern. A 10 weeks long- Hedrick [10], who seems to agree with the term epidemiologic study by Raben [9] CCC study, highlights the main reasons suggests that a strong link has been found which the CCC believes that they are relating the increase in weight in adults to „serious limitations‟ for the contrast the intake of Saccharin. Moreover, in the studies. Examples of the serious consort with Reban [9], the specialists in disagreements can be summarized as the the neuroscience branch in Yale journal of followings: Firstly, the counter studies biology and medicine have published an have been found to be illogical. The rats article in 2010 in which they assume that which have been eaten meals Saccharin is likely to cause weight supplemented with Saccharin appear to problems by referring to another study give the same increase in weight when where 31,940 women have suffered of they are being fed a high fat food. eight-year weight gain during consuming Secondly, copious studies in human have Saccharin. Another statement has been been shown the positive effects of released suggests that consuming consuming Saccharin in terms of losing Saccharin increases the motivation to eat and preserving body weight. Thirdly, the due to the fact that it leaves a sweet taste CCC accuses the counter studies for not after the intake and raises the energy level, providing appropriate statistical analysis the conclusion was drawn based on an and it accuses the authors for misleading experimental study on rats [9]. No further the readers. After viewing both the studies have been conducted in terms of argument and counter argument, the main the implications of the sweet taste of conclusion to be drawn is that introducing Saccharin. Saccharin in diets can affect positively on the body-weight by either controlling or In order to justify its sponsorship, the decreasing it. Calorie Control Council (CCC) [16] has published an article in which it refers to THE GOVERNMENTAL ROLE IN the benefits of Saccharin in different REGULATING THE USE OF aspects. What has been written in the SACCHARIN article can be summarized in four points, The government intervention has also firstly, Saccharin has been recommended played a vital role in deciding the extent to to be consumed for those who try to lose which Saccharin should be used. Over the or preserve their body weight to the fact past forty years, many governments, for that it contains no calories. Secondly, it instance, have adopted the law of banning seems that dietetic professionals used to the use of Saccharin in various food recommend Saccharin intake to the products, followed by the law of re-

Journal of Industrial Mechanics e-ISSN: 2582-1067 Volume 4 Issue 3 allocating it. In 1977, according to the the governments which cannot afford to International Food Information Council take risks when people's lives are at stake. Foundation (IFICF) [17], the American FDA proposed to ban the use of Saccharin CONCLUSION owing to the experimental evidence which The decision whether to introduce shows that the consumption of Saccharin Saccharin into public food and drinks has leads to cause bladder cancer in rats. As a been of considerable debate over the past result of this strong evidence, the US century. The present study has been government passed a law to ban the usage designed to determine the effect of of Saccharin in the same year [18]. Added Saccharin intake on human bodies from investigation into the advanced two different perspectives: Health and the experimental evidence has confirmed the governmental role. Regarding the health safety of Saccharin intake in which it aspect, this paper has discussed two major shows no association between bladder issues presented by the relation between cancer in rats and humans, and therefore Saccharin and cancer, and Saccharin and Saccharin was brought back to the market body-weight. In terms of Saccharin as a by 2001 [17]. carcinogenic substance it has been concluded that although Saccharin might In Canada, prior to the USA, Saccharin cause bladder cancer in rats, strong was banned due to the claims which advanced experimental studies have strongly state the severe damaging effects confirmed that these findings cannot be of Saccharin intake in the human body extrapolated to humans. With regard to the [19]. Health Canada [20], attempting to re- body-weight, it has been often invoked list Saccharin in its food production, has that Saccharin causes an increase in weight further evaluated the evidence, resulting in for those who consume it. However, recent a conclusion that Saccharin safety status extensive studies have indicated the for human consumption is not absolute. contrary. Saccharin intake does not only Unlike the USA, Saccharin is still banned help in preserving weight, but also in by the Canadian government until the losing it due to the fact that it is zero Health Canada provides clear-cut evidence calories. on the safety of consuming Saccharin followed by a period of time for the The governmental position towards the consumer feedback. If no health concerns usage of Saccharin in the public industrial arise, Saccharin will be used again as a food and drinks has also been found to be food artificial sweetener. a highly controversial matter. Formerly, around 1977 Saccharin was banned in Although, recently, clear evidence has many countries. Currently, after re- been provided, and there are more than examining the issue using the ninety countries officially permitting the technological methods, some countries, the consumption of Saccharin up to a dose of USA for instance, have re-listed Saccharin 0-5 mg Saccharin/kg body weight [21], as a safe substance for the human intake, other governments still ban the usage of while others, like Canada, have not Saccharin. In the main, it is very important declared a final status clarifying the safety to evaluate the overall process under the of Saccharin consumption. For such conditions of the unusual circumstances responsibility, governments, with the aid (like a daily intake of high doses) before of experts, should conduct further research announcing the safety of consuming such a and go through many steps before controversial chemical substance, announcing or giving a declaration upon especially when it is the responsibility of such debatable substance, especially when

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