Tag: Nutritive vs non nutritive

While both are popular sugar substitutes, a common misconception is that aspartame and Splenda are identical. This is incorrect, as they are chemically distinct artificial sweeteners with different properties and compositions.

The color of a sweetener packet is often a universal signal for its contents. The artificial sweetener in a yellow packet is sucralose, a zero-calorie compound used as a sugar substitute, with the most recognizable brand being Splenda.

According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), both xylitol and aspartame are approved as food additives, but they are not the same thing. Despite both being sugar alternatives, they have distinct chemical compositions, calorie counts, and biological effects on the body. Understanding the difference is crucial for making informed choices about diet, especially for those managing conditions like diabetes or simply monitoring their sugar intake.