Consumers should be aware that commonly used artificial sweetener sucralose may pose health risks when heated,according to a new evaluation by the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment. The institute’s findings, stemming from a 2019 study, indicate that heating sucralose above 120 degrees Celsius can led to the formation of possibly hazardous compounds. While a definitive risk assessment is still underway, the BfR recommends caution when cooking or baking with products containing the sweetener.
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The artificial sweetener sucralose, commonly found in some protein powders, can become harmful when exposed to high heat. This is the conclusion of a 2019 study by the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR), which reviewed the current body of research on the stability of the substance. The institute is issuing a cautionary warning: heating sucralose to temperatures above 120 degrees Celsius (248 degrees Fahrenheit) can lead to the formation of compounds that are hazardous to health and potentially carcinogenic.
Above 120°C, sucralose begins to break down, releasing chlorine. This process accelerates as the temperature rises, according to the BfR. These temperatures are commonly reached during baking or cooking with products containing sucralose.
Sucralose: Harmful Substances Form When Heated
However, a definitive risk assessment is currently hampered by a lack of data. According to the BfR, it remains unclear what specific toxic byproducts are created and in what quantities when sucralose-containing foods are heated above 120°C.
Until a comprehensive risk assessment can be completed, the BfR recommends avoiding the strong heating of foods containing sucralose, such as during baking, frying, and roasting.
Professor Hans Hauner, Director of the Else-Kröner-Fresenius-Center for Nutritional Medicine at the Technical University of Munich, offers a differing perspective. “Anyone who occasionally consumes baked goods with sucralose doesn’t need to worry,” he stated in an article on sucralose published by “Apotheken Umschau.” He further explains that the potential health risk also depends on the amount consumed.
