Calorie Control Council

Spring into Summer - the Healthy Weigh
It's bathing suit season - time to shed those warm clothes and bring out the shorts, sleeveless shirts and favorite summer sundress. However, if the thought of having to remove your spring sweater in favor of leg-revealing shorts makes you shudder, take heart - there is still time to lose those excess pounds you may have gained over the holidays or just work on developing some healthier habits.

American Council on Science and Health: Sugar Substitutes and Your Health
The American Council on Science and Health notes that extensive scientific research supports the safety of the five low-calorie sugar substitutes currently approved for use in foods and beverages in the U.S.

New NIH/NCI Study Confirms Safety of Aspartame
Read the Associated Press article (pdf)

Learn more about pro- and prebiotics with the Council's newest backgrounder, "Probiotics and Prebiotics As Ingredients in Functional Foods"

Sweet Choices: Low-Calorie Sweeteners Brochure (pdf)

Saccharin.org Expanded to Provide Consumers and Health Professionals with Objective, Scientific Information

Fructose Backgrounder

New recipes for tantalizing tiramisu, flavorful fruit pie and mouth-watering mousse…
Try these tasty recipes for desserts that are not only delicious, but are low-carb and reduced-calorie.

Summer Food Myths
Read our Q&A with registered dietitian Diane Quagliani, who reports the facts on the most popular summer food myths.

Sucralose.org Launched to Provide Objective, Scientific Information and Dispel Rumors
Consumers and Health Professionals Now Have a Resource for the Facts about the Sweetener Sucralose

USDA New Food Guidance System a "Balancing Act"
Calorie Control Council Supports Message of Balancing Calorie Intake and Physical Activity

New Research Indicates Adults Using Low-Calorie Products Have Higher Quality Diets
Study Finds Higher Nutrient Intake in Diets of Those Using Low-Calorie, Sugar-Free Foods and Beverages

Sucralose and Splenda® Brand Sweetener Offer Safe Options for Controlling Calories
Sucralose, a no-calorie sweetener used in thousands of low-calorie and sugar-free products, and Splenda Brand® Sweetener are important tools for those looking to control caloric intake.

"Calories Count" for Weight Control According to New USDA Dietary Guidelines

Online Sites and Calculators Assist Calorie Control and Physical Activity

FDA Approves Use of Olean® in Popcorn

The Food & Drug Administration (FDA) recently announced the approval of Olean® (also known as olestra) in prepackaged ready-to-heat popcorn (microwave/stove top).

American Dietetic Association Publishes Updated Position Paper on Sweeteners

Recently Published Position Statement Confirms Benefits, Usefulness and Safety of Low- and Reduced- Calorie Sweeteners.

Watching Your Carb Intake? Calories Still Count

If you're watching your carbs more carefully than your calories, read on to learn how to eat a low-carb diet (high protein) the healthy way!

Acesulfame Potassium Ends on a “Sweet Note” in 2003

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently announced that Acesulfame Potassium received a general use approval. Acesulfame K, which has been used for many years in thousands of foods and beverages in approximately 90 countries, can now be used as a general purpose sweetener and flavor enhancer in food, not including meat and poultry, according to the FDA.

Aspartame Fact Sheet Appears in JADA (June, 2003)

The June issue of the Journal of the American Dietetic Association (JADA) featured a "Fact Sheet" on aspartame. JADA reaches more than 70,000 dietitians and contains information on the latest research concerning nutrition, diet and other related issues.
JADA Fact Sheet

CaloriesCount!

Check out CaloriesCount.com! A new online program designed to help people with their dieting efforts and make weight loss a reality -- safely, sensibly and permanently.

European Food Safety Authority Reconfirms Aspartame’s Clean Bill of Health

The food safety authority in Europe, the Scientific Committee on Food (SCF) of the European Commission, has reconfirmed aspartame’s clean bill of health following a comprehensive review of the sweetener’s safety. The SCF is a body of independent scientific experts which advises the European Commission on matters of food safety; its aspartame report was issued on December 10.

http://europa.eu.int/comm/food/fs/sc/scf/out155_en.pdf (pdf)

On December 18, 2002, the United Kingdom’s Food Standards Agency (FSA) issued a statement announcing that “the Agency supports the conclusions of the Committee’s thorough and timely review on the safety of the sweetener.”

http://www.foodstandards.gov.uk/news/newsarchive/2002/dec/aspartamereview

Neotame

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently approved the use of neotame. Neotame is applicable in any category of food and beverage, including but not limited to chewing gum, carbonated diet soft drinks, refrigerated and non-refrigerated ready-to-drink beverages, sugar-free frozen desserts and novelties, puddings and fillings, yogurt-type products, baked goods and candies. Learn more about neotame.

AFSSA Confirms Safety of Aspartame Again

The French Food Safety Agency (AFSSA) recently completed a two year study by the French Expert Committee on Flavourings, Food Additives and Processing Aids and has confirmed the safety of aspartame once again. To read the English translation on its report and opinion on the safety of aspartame, click here.

Low-Fat Foods Help Consumers Reduce the Fat in their Diet

Learn more about how low-fat foods can be beneficial in reducing total fat.

"Lograr" Está Disponible Ahora en Español! ("Winning by Losing" is Now Available in Spanish!)

El " ganar de perder " es un sucinto fácil-a-leyó guía al control eficaz del peso. Descubra los peligros de buscar para el arreglo rápido y aprenda 10 ayudas para restructurar sus hábitos de comer. ¡Imprima una copia para el futuro!

Congress Gives Saccharin a Clean "Bill" of Health

On December 21, 2000, President Clinton signed legislation to remove the warning label that had been required on saccharin-sweetened foods and beverages since 1977. After almost a quarter century, the book finally has been closed on one of America’s major food safety scares of the seventies. "Sound, new scientific research results of more than two decades of study have decisively proven saccharin’s safety,” said the bill's sponsor, Rep. Joe Knollenberg. Government, scientists and industry are now all in agreement on saccharin's safety.

More on saccharin on this site.
Also, visit saccharin.org

Consumers to Find a New Sugar Substitute in Grocery Stores

Sucralose (also known by the brand name Splenda®), a non-caloric sweetener made from sugar will be available for the first time to consumers beginning in October 2000. This is sweet news to the 163 million Americans who consume low-calorie and sugar-free foods and beverages and to the 75 percent of low-calorie consumers who want to have more low-calorie and reduced-sugar choices available to use as part of a healthy lifestyle. Each packet of sucralose, the equivalent of two teaspoons of sugar, can save 32 calories. Sucralose is heat stable so it can be successfully used in cooking or baking.

More on sucralose on this site
Also, visit www.sucralose.org

Secrets Of Successful Dieters Revealed In National Survey

Waistlines continue to grow with 55 percent of the American adult population now overweight, according to recent government statistics. The federal government has declared an obesity epidemic. However, a new national survey reveals that some Americans are losing weight successfully.

The survey, recently released by the Calorie Control Council, reveals that one-fourth of the population is currently on a diet and another 47 percent are making a conscious effort to control their weight. This means that more than 124 million Americans (over the age of 18) are trying to either lose or control their weight. And with some success - almost two-thirds of dieters have lost at least ten pounds in recent months. The Council, a non-profit trade association, has tracked dieting trends for over 20 years.

Sugar Substitutes are Meeting Americans' Cravings with Fewer Calories; FDA Reaffirms Aspartame's Safety in FDA Consumer Article

The magazine of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, FDA Consumer, has a feature article in its November/December issue called, "Sugar Substitutes: Americans Opt for Sweetness and Lite." FDA notes, "Foods sweetened with sugar are more popular than ever. But for people watching their waistlines, research shows that sweeteners such as saccharin and aspartame can help keep calories down as part of a diet and exercise program."

Experts say it's natural for the American population to crave sugary food products. However, in excess these products can contribute unnecessary calories to the diet. In response to their natural cravings, consumers are turning to sugar substitutes (also known as low-calorie sweeteners) to help them control their caloric intake while satisfying their sweet tooth. According to Adam Drewnoski, Ph.D., director of nutritional science at the University of Washington, "Anything that can help people cut back on (excess) calories is good." He also notes that several studies have shown that sugar substitutes can help people maintain weight loss.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved saccharin, aspartame, acesulfame potassium, and sucralose as use as sugar substitutes in a variety of foods. Three other sweeteners are currently under review by the FDA.

Specifically with regard to aspartame (also known as NutraSweet®), the FDA states, "Aspartame has come under fire in recent years from individuals who have used the Internet in an attempt to link the sweetener to brain tumors and other serious disorders. But FDA stands behind its original approval of aspartame, and subsequent evaluations have shown that the product is safe."

More on aspartame on this site.
More on aspartame misinformation circulating on the Internet.
For more information about low-calorie sweeteners, their safety and how they can be part of a healthy diet, click here to read the latest issue of FDA Consumer magazine.

American Diabetes Association Considers Aspartame Safe

The American Diabetes Association issued a statement recently regarding the safety of aspartame. The statement is in response to current unsubstantiated claims that aspartame causes health risks to diabetes patients. The American Diabetes Association (ADA) stated that “aspartame has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), a governmental agency that conducts thorough scientific reviews to determine foods that are safe for public consumption.” The ADA also commented that it follows “FDA recommendations and recognizes that there is no credible scientific evidence linking aspartame to any health-related problems for people with diabetes.” The statement also advised that the FDA determines an acceptable daily intake (ADI), which is the amount of a food ingredient that can be safely consumed daily over a lifetime without any adverse effect. Intake of all nonnutritive sweeteners, including aspartame, are well below the ADI and do not pose any health risks. The ADA concluded it considers aspartame, as well as other FDA-approved nonnutritive sweeteners, such as saccharin, acesulfame potassium and sucralose, acceptable sugar substitutes and safe as part of a diabetic meal plan.

More on aspartame on this site

American Dental Association Endorses Sugar-Free Foods

The Calorie Control Council commends the American Dental Association for recently adopting a position recognizing the role of sugar-free foods in maintaining good dental health. Here’s what this prestigious organization recently concluded: “[ADA] strongly recommends that major efforts be made to promote the use of sugar-free foods or chewing substances in place of sugar containing foods that involve a frequent intake or repeated oral use.... use of these sugar-free foods will contribute to improved oral health.”

More on polyols (sweeteners used in sugar-free gum, candies and other products) on this site