Sucralose byproduct DNA damage findings face European safety reassessment

September 13, 2026 at 05:00 AM1 min

This digest was compiled by AI from multiple sources — links to the originals are below.

A 2023 study found sucralose-6-acetate, an impurity in the sweetener Splenda, damaged DNA in human cells in vitro. The European Food Safety Authority concluded in 2026 that sucralose remains safe under authorized uses, questioning whether the compound forms during digestion.

Key Facts

Sucralose-6-acetate was found at concentrations up to 0.67% in commercial sucralose samples.
The 2023 study reported genotoxicity in cultured human blood cells exposed to sucralose-6-acetate.
The European Food Safety Authority concluded in 2026 that sucralose remains safe under its currently authorized uses.
EFSA noted that compounds detected in a rat study could have been impurities already present in the administered sucralose.

The Chemical Behind the Concerns

The 2023 investigation focused on sucralose-6-acetate, a compound chemically related to sucralose but not the same substance. It can occur during manufacturing and remain as an impurity in the finished sweetener. Researchers reported finding it at concentrations of up to 0.67% in commercial sucralose samples they analyzed. Earlier work by the same team, published in 2018, identified fat-soluble compounds in the urine and feces of rats given sucralose. The researchers interpreted those findings as evidence that the sweetener was being chemically altered inside the animals.

DNA Experiments and Regulatory Review

Researchers exposed cultured human blood cells to sucralose-6-acetate and examined indicators of genetic damage. The team reported results consistent with genotoxicity, the ability to damage genetic material. Their screening indicated a pattern associated with breaks in DNA strands. In its 2026 review, the European Food Safety Authority noted that the compounds detected in the rat study could have been impurities already present in the administered sucralose. Their appearance in urine and feces therefore did not necessarily establish that metabolism had produced them.