Common Foods and Products: What Items Contain Sucralose?

December 23, 2025 •

3 min read

Sucralose, an artificial sweetener first approved by the FDA in 1998, is roughly 600 times sweeter than sugar. Given its high intensity and zero-calorie profile, a vast array of processed foods and beverages now contain sucralose as a key ingredient. Consumers will find this sweetener, often sold under the brand name Splenda, in everything from diet sodas to canned fruit, though it is always important to check the ingredients label.

Quick Summary

Sucralose is a zero-calorie artificial sweetener found in a multitude of diet and sugar-free products. You can find it in beverages like diet sodas and flavored water, dairy items such as light yogurts, protein powders, and many packaged foods including baked goods and snacks. Checking product labels is the only reliable way to confirm if a product contains this sweetener.

Key Points

Prevalence: Sucralose is one of the most common artificial sweeteners, found in over 6,000 food products globally, including many you might not expect.
Identifying It: Always check the ingredients list for the word "sucralose" or its European food additive code, E955.
Diet and Sugar-Free Items: It is a key ingredient in many diet and sugar-free products, such as sodas, light yogurts, and canned fruits.
Surprising Sources: Sucralose can also be found in unexpected items like some packaged breads, certain condiments, and even breath sprays.
Tabletop Use: As the main component of Splenda, sucralose is widely available as a tabletop sweetener for coffee, tea, and cooking.
Supplements: Due to its ability to mask bitter flavors, it is frequently used in protein powders, chewable vitamins, and meal replacement shakes.

Sucralose is a versatile and widely used artificial sweetener, popular for its intense sweetness without the added calories of sugar. Its stability under heat and wide pH range make it a manufacturer's favorite for a vast range of food and drink products. The best way to know if a product contains sucralose is to check the ingredients list for 'sucralose' or its European code, 'E955'.

Beverages and Drink Mixes

From your morning coffee to your post-workout rehydration drink, sucralose is a staple in the beverage industry, offering sweetness without the sugar crash.

Diet and Sugar-Free Sodas: Many well-known diet soda brands use sucralose, often in combination with other sweeteners like acesulfame potassium, to achieve a balanced flavor.
Flavored Water and Drink Enhancers: Products like flavored fitness waters, powdered drink mixes, and water enhancers frequently rely on sucralose for a low-calorie sweet taste.
Ready-to-Drink Teas and Coffees: Canned and bottled iced teas, as well as flavored coffee beverages, often include sucralose to manage sugar content.
Sports and Energy Drinks: Performance beverages use sucralose to provide a sweet flavor that masks other active ingredients without adding carbohydrates.

Dairy and Frozen Desserts

Sucralose's stability during processing makes it ideal for many dairy and frozen dessert products, allowing for guilt-free indulgence.

Light and Diet Yogurts: Many fat-free or light yogurts, including fruit-on-the-bottom varieties, are sweetened with a blend of sucralose and acesulfame potassium.
Sugar-Free Ice Cream and Puddings: Frozen dairy desserts and refrigerated puddings are often made with sucralose to lower calorie content.
Flavored Milks: Plant-based and traditional flavored milks often contain sucralose for sweetness.

Baked Goods and Sweets

Sucralose's heat-stable nature means it holds up to the baking process, appearing in a surprising number of baked goods and confections.

Packaged Breads and Tortillas: Certain "light" or "100% whole wheat" breads and flour tortillas may contain sucralose alongside other sugars.
Cookies and Muffins: Reduced-sugar baked goods and dry baking mixes frequently contain sucralose as a sugar replacement.
Sugar-Free Gum and Mints: To provide a long-lasting sweet flavor, sucralose is commonly used in chewing gum and breath mints.
Snack Bars and Candy: A variety of snack bars, protein bars, and candies, including some that aren't specifically labeled as "diet," can use sucralose.

Tabletop Sweeteners and Supplements

For direct use by consumers, sucralose is the active ingredient in several popular sweetener products and is a go-to for many supplements.

Tabletop Sweetener Packets: The most recognizable product containing sucralose is Splenda, sold in yellow packets.
Protein Powders: To make flavored protein shakes more palatable, many protein powders incorporate sucralose for a sweet, low-calorie profile.
Vitamins and Supplements: Chewable vitamin gummies and other supplements often use sucralose to mask bitter flavors and improve taste.

A Comparison of Sucralose-Containing Products

To better understand where you might encounter sucralose, here is a comparison of common food categories.


Food Category	Typical Products	Why Sucralose is Used	How to Identify
Beverages	Diet sodas, flavored water, sports drinks	Provides sweetness without calories, stable in acid and carbonation.	Look for 'sucralose' or 'Splenda' on the ingredients list.
Dairy	Light yogurt, sugar-free puddings, flavored milks	Maintains consistent sweetness after pasteurization and fermentation.	Check for 'sucralose' and 'E955' on the label.
Baked Goods	Packaged bread, low-sugar muffins, mixes	Is heat-stable and retains sweetness after baking.	May be listed as an ingredient even if not explicitly labeled "diet".
Condiments	Sugar-free ketchup, reduced-sugar dressings	Sweetens without adding sugar, stable in a wide pH range.	Read the fine print on the ingredients panel.
Supplements	Protein powders, vitamin gummies	Masks unappealing flavors of vitamins and proteins.	Check the 'other ingredients' or 'supplement facts' panel.

Conclusion

Sucralose's versatility, zero-calorie profile, and heat stability have made it a ubiquitous ingredient in thousands of processed foods and drinks, particularly those marketed for weight management or lower sugar content. While it offers a convenient way to enjoy sweet tastes without the calories of sugar, the sheer variety of items containing sucralose means that careful label reading is essential for anyone wishing to monitor their consumption. Whether in diet soda, yogurt, or a protein bar, a quick glance at the ingredients list can confirm the presence of this prevalent artificial sweetener. For those seeking alternatives, options like stevia and monk fruit are increasingly available, but it is always wise to investigate the complete list of ingredients in any packaged food or drink.

Frequently Asked Questions

Sucralose is most commonly known by the brand name Splenda, which is widely recognized as a popular tabletop sweetener.

No, sucralose is not limited to "diet" foods. While it is prevalent in sugar-free and low-calorie items, it can also be found in some regular, packaged baked goods and other products.

Yes, sucralose is heat-stable, meaning it can be used for baking without losing its sweetness. However, some studies have raised concerns about heating it at very high temperatures.

You can tell if a packaged food contains sucralose by carefully reading the ingredients list on the product label. It will be explicitly listed as 'sucralose' or 'E955'.

No, while sucralose is a common artificial sweetener, it is not present in all blends. Some blends use other sweeteners like aspartame (Equal) or saccharin (Sweet'N Low).

Sucralose itself contains no calories and is not metabolized by the body for energy. However, sucralose-based products like Splenda often contain bulking agents (like maltodextrin or dextrose) that add a negligible amount of carbohydrates and calories.

Sucralose has been approved by regulatory bodies worldwide, including the FDA, and is considered safe for general consumption when consumed within the recommended Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI) levels. However, health authorities like the WHO have issued conditional recommendations against its long-term use for weight management.