FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 23, 2005

The California Alliance For Consumer Protection
37 Derow Court, Sacramento, Ca. 95833
(916) 923-2215 fax (916) 923-2216
www.consumeradvocacy.com
advocacy@consumeradvocacy.com

Contact: Michael Bustamante
916.425.0839

CONSUMER ORGANIZATIONS ASK ATTORNEY GENERAL TO REVIEW SPLENDA’S ADVERTISING PRACTICES
They are asking: Are Consumers Being led to Believe Artificial Sweetener is ‘Natural’?

Sacramento, CA - Two of California’s leading consumer organizations released a letter today urging California’s Attorney General to look into what may be misleading advertising practices by the makers of Splenda, McNeil Nutritionals, a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson. The letter, signed by Consumers First and the California Alliance for Consumer Protection, specifically calls attention to a series of advertisements that replace the word "sugar" with the word "Splenda".

"We are concerned that this is a deliberate attempt on the part of the makers of Splenda to fool consumers into believing they are ingesting a natural product when in fact it is chlorine based," said Michael Ross, Consumer Advocate for the California Alliance for Consumer Protection. "Consumers have the right to know what they are purchasing for themselves and their families. The advertising practices by the makers of Splenda appear to fall significantly short when it comes to being accurate about their product."

The consumer organizations join a growing chorus of consumers and other organizations around the country who believe Splenda’s advertising campaign appear to be misleading. The Organic Consumers Association, Center for Science in the Public Interest, Florida Consumer Action Network, www.TruthAboutSplenda.com, NYPIRG and the Texas Consumer Association argue the slogan "Made from sugar so it tastes like sugar" is leading consumers to believe Splenda is as natural as sugar. In reality, Splenda is a highly processed chemical substance called sucralose, which is manufactured in a chemical plant. The final product contains no sugar, and the compound sucralose, cannot be found anywhere in nature.

"A food product made through a chemical process using chlorine in a chemical plant can hardly be considered natural," added Michael Ross. "Yet the makers of Splenda, through their creative advertising practices, appear to be working overtime to make consumers believe Splenda is nothing more than sugar without the calories. This is something that needs to be looked at closely for the sake of consumers."

[Text of letter follows:]

Dear Attorney General Lockyer:

We are writing today in an effort to bring to your attention a matter of importance to consumers in California - what we believe to be deceptive advertising practices on the part of the makers of Splenda, an artificial sweetener manufactured by McNeil Nutritionals, a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson.

The makers of Splenda have engaged in aggressive advertising campaigns, specifically intended to make consumers believe that they are ingesting "sugar without the calories". In reality, consumers are ingesting a synthesized man-made compound called trichlorogalatosucrose, or sucralose for short. It is no accident that the makers of this product are calling their compound sucralose, a name that our informal polls show could easily be mistaken for the natural product sucrose, or table sugar. Indeed, a recent national on-line survey of consumers found that nearly half of those surveyed believed that Splenda was a "natural product".

Sucralose is chemically achieved through a multi-step patented process that alters the molecular structure of sucrose by removing hydrogen and oxygen from a sugar molecule, then using phosgene, sulfuryl chloride or other chlorine gases to add three atoms of chlorine to produce an entirely new chemical compound. Despite this man-made compound, Splenda advertisements and packaging prominently display the logo featuring the phrase "Made From Sugar So It Tastes Like Sugar". Their ads replace the word "sugar" with "Splenda". Among the many references, Splenda advertisements include references to the dance of the "Splenda plum fairy", and "Splenda and spice and everything nice."

Health experts around the country are increasingly raising concerns about consumers ingesting man-made compounds such as Splenda. Consumers today are buying soft drinks, ice creams, yogurts, snacks, sport drinks and other different types of foods that include Splenda and believe they are making healthier choices. Consumers deserve the right to know what they are ingesting so that they can make an informed decision.

We are hopeful that you will take the time to investigate our concerns regarding Splenda’s advertising and give consumers the honest information they need to make an informed decision.

If we can be of assistance, please do not hesitate to call me at (916) 923-2215. Thank you for your consideration. We look forward to your favorable response.

Sincerely,
(ORIGINAL SIGNED)
Michael Ross Jim Conran
Consumer Advocate Consumers First

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