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The use of sweeteners in children is a controversial topic, with impacts that still generate doubts and concerns, especially due to the growing presence of these compounds in food products for children.

Sweeteners in Children's Diets

The use of artificial sweeteners in food products for children is advised against by the World Health Organization (WHO), as it can influence children's tastes, making them more likely to prefer excessively sweet foods, as well as it seems to affect the composition of the gut microbiota and the regulation of blood glucose, and can disrupt pancreatic endocrine function, by mechanisms that are not yet fully established.  ^2.3

Due to these effects, the consumption of artificial sweeteners in children may even increase the risk of developing metabolic diseases in the long term and may not have a positive impact on weight management. ⁴

In addition, the consumption of artificial sweeteners may also be associated with potential cognitive problems, affecting the production of neurotransmitters and other molecules involved in brain function, with an increased risk of neurocognitive effects.⁵

Unlike artificial sweeteners, natural sweeteners and sugar alcohols are generally considered to be less harmful options.

Natural sweeteners are derived directly from natural sources, such as fruits, plants, and honey. These are compounds that provide sweetness similar to sugar, but with some differences in terms of metabolic and health impact.¹

Sugar alcohols are compounds produced from natural ingredients and with minimal processing.  These are carbohydrates that do not promote tooth decay or blood glucose spikes like other sweeteners.  For this reason, they are often used in products without added sugar to provide sweetness and texture to them.¹

However, more studies are still needed on its long-term effect on the children's body. In this sense, the general recommendation is to promote a balanced diet, rich in nutrients and in moderation of these components.

Artificial Sweeteners	Natural Sweeteners	Sugar alcohols
Aspartame	Honey	Maltitol
Saccharine	Fructose	Sorbitol
Sucralose	Agave	Erythritol
Acesulfame-K	Stevia	Xylitol

 

Oh! MySnacks Position

We have created our Kids Box carefully formulated to contain no artificial sweeteners. We use natural sweeteners, such as honey or fruit itself, and sugar alcohols, such as maltitol, to create a pleasant and healthy taste, reducing calorie content, glycemic impact and the risk of tooth decay compared to refined white sugar. By avoiding white sugar, we ensure balanced snacks that stand out for their quality and safety, as opposed to the highly sugary equivalents found on the market.

 

Food & Drug Administration (FDA) Position

The U.S. Food & Drug Administration considers many natural sweeteners to be safe to consume, but warns that despite being natural, these sweeteners provide calories and can influence blood glucose levels, so it recommends moderation due to their calorie content and potential metabolic impact. As for sugar alcohols, these are compounds that the human body does not fully absorb, and for this reason the FDA also advises moderate consumption, as in large quantities they can cause intestinal discomfort, such as gas and diarrhoea. The FDA requires that products with high sugar alcohols contents indicate their potential laxative effect. When it comes to artificial sweeteners, the FDA has approved several of them for human consumption, as long as they are used within the recommended daily limits, regarding them as safe under these conditions.¹

 

Bibliography:

1. Commissioner, O. How sweet it is: All about sweeteners, S. Food and Drug Administration. Available at: https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/how-sweet-it-all-about-sweeteners (Accessed: 07 November 2024). 
2. Piekara A, Krzywonos M, Szymańska A. Sweetening Agents and Sweeteners in Dietary Supplements for Children-Analysis of the Polish Market. 2020 Aug 9; 12(8):2387. doi: 10.3390/nu12082387. PMID: 32784924; PMCID: PMC7468995.
3. Scharf RJ, DeBoer MD. Sugar-Sweetened Beverages and Children's Health. Annu Rev Public Health. 2016;37:273-93. doi: 10.1146/annurev-publhealth-032315-021528. PMID: 26989829.
4. Hum B, Georgia S. The Effects of Non-Nutritive Sweetener Consumption in the Pediatric Populations: What We Know, What We Don't, and What We Need to Learn. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne). 2021
5. Janežič D, Jäntschi L, Bolboacă SD. Sugars and Sweeteners: Structure, Properties and In Silico Modeling. Curr Med Chem. 2020

 Author: 

Matilde De Carvalho (CP. 5756N)