Curious Cook: A thin line

Ultra-processed foods are foods like soft drinks, candy, chocolate, commercial chicken nuggets and French fries. — TYSOM/Unsplash

It was disappointing to read about the health warnings now suggested for a very common sweetener found in many foods and drinks. Its ability to tolerate heat also means it is present in many baked products and it is practically certain you would have eaten some sucralose by now.

Although invented in 1976, sucralose was not mass marketed until 1998 when it was approved for human consumption by the US Food & Drug Administration (FDA). In 1999, the FDA extended its approval of sucralose to allow its use as a “general purpose sweetener”, and therefore permitted in all types of foods and drinks.