COM 357 Informative Speech
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Name: Natalie Di Dio
Subject: Aspects of Artificial Sweeteners.
General Purpose: To inform.
Specific Purpose: I want my audience to understand that there are two important aspects to be
recognized about artificial sweeteners.
Main Points: 1. There are many different types of artificial sweeteners that exist today. 2.
There are both positive and negative thoughts associated with the use of artificial sweeteners.
Structure: Topical.
Introduction
Imagine being diabetic, or perhaps some of you are. Those of you who are, among others
of you maybe, know that with being diabetic you are now forced to monitor everything you
intake into your body, every single day. On top of so much else, diabetics are required to
monitor so closely all of the sugars they consume and in some cases also all of the calories.
Much of the population tries to do this, regardless if they have diabetes or not. As shown
through America’s large number of obesity and large number of people whom are overweight, or
maybe from just trying to control your own weight and or health, it is easily visible that this is
not an easy task. But if you are a diabetic, the failure of this task is not really an option. In
trying to keep control of this, one of those most beneficial tools provided is artificial sweetener.
An artificial sweetener is a substitute for sugar that gives consumers a similar sweet taste,
without the calories or carbohydrates.
While always being interested in how to eat healthy and then hearing the controversy and
different assumptions and myths about artificial sweeteners, I wanted to discover and learn more.
I have done much research on this topic through books, Internet sites, brochures, and speaking
with a registered dietitian and certified diabetes educator.
Artificial sweeteners are so prevalent in today’s world. Hundreds of foods and beverages
incorporate these different artificial sweeteners, and often consumers are even completely
unaware. They can be found in soft drinks, instant coffee and tea, ice cream, cereals, pudding
and pie fillings, gelatin desserts, chewing gum, baked goods, light yogurt, and among other
products. With so much talk and use of these sweeteners I think it is important to be informed
and know the facts. What could possibly be more important then what you are consuming and
putting in to your own body?
I intend to inform you on two different aspects I think are important to be recognized
pertaining to artificial sweeteners. The different kinds, and what their effects are and thought to
be.
COM 357 Informative Speech
I. There are many different artificial sweeteners that exist today.
A. Artificial sweeteners are also referred to as sugar substitutes, alternative sweeteners, nonsugar sweeteners, synthetic sweeteners, non-nutritive sweeteners, low-calorie sweeteners
etc.
B. In order to be accessible in the United States all artificial sweeteners had to first be tested
by the Food and Drug Administration agency of the United States Department of Health
and Human Services, also known as the FDA.
C. The three most commonly known FDA approved artificial sweeteners are aspartame,
saccharin, and sucralose. They are all sold at local stores for individuals.
1. The brand names found in stores for Aspartame are Nutrasweet, Sugar Twin, and
Equal.
2. The brand names found in stores for Saccharin are Sweet’N Low, Sweet Twin, and
Nectrasweet.
3. The brand name found in stores for Sucralose is Splenda.
D. The newest FDA approved artificial sweetener is Stevia, which brand names consist of A
Sweet Leaf, Sun Crystals, Steviva, PureVia, and most commonly Turvia. Although also
individually sold at stores, it is not nearly as popular as the other three.
E. There two other artificial sweeteners that have been approved by the FDA in the United
States.
1. Acesulfame Potassium, which brand names consist of Sunnett and Sweet One.
2. Neotame, which does not have a brand name.
3. These two artificial sweeteners are more commonly used by large companies and are
not sold for individual sale or are as easy to find.
F. The differences between these artificial sweeteners consist of where they are derived
from, their chemical makeup and variations in their tastes.
G. The demand of artificial sweeteners around the world has been continually increasing.
1. According to the Calorie Control Council, an international association of
manufacturers of low-calorie and reduced-fat foods and beverages, the American
people are increasingly becoming more conscious of calories.
2. Lyn O’Brien Nabors an employee of the Calorie Control Council reports in
Alternative Sweeteners, a book on the topic, that “the use of low-calorie sugar-free
products tripled in the final two decades of the 20th century. In the United States
alone, more than 150 million people use these products regularly.”
3. This consumer demand can be met thanks to the discovery and availability of these
multiple and different artificial sweeteners that I have mentioned. No one artificial
sweetener could meet all these needs alone.
TRANSITION: With the growing demand and use of artificial sweeteners comes controversy
and thoughts on them as well.
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COM 357 Informative Speech
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II. There are both positive and negative thoughts associated with the use of artificial sweeteners.
A. There are many untrue negative myths about artificial sweeteners.
1. According to John Emsley, a science writer that attended the Imperial College of
Science, Technology and Medicine, this is because they are the product of a chemistry
laboratory and therefore some automatically are suspicious of them.
a) They have been said to possibly cause cancer.
b) They have noted to potentially raise plasma concentrations to harmful levels and
have toxic effects on the body.
c) They have been said they may increase hunger and desire to eat, while suppressing
fullness.
d) They have been said they may have effects on the brain functioning and behaviors.
e) They have been said to possibly cause headaches, insomnia, dizziness, fatigue, and
mood alterations.
2. None of these myths or assumptions have ever been proven to be true. According to
the FDA, they requested the Centers for Disease Control to investigate all complaints.
All investigations resulted in no proof of the artificial sweeteners being the cause of
any of these problems.
B. Artificial sweeteners are positive.
1. According to the registered dietitian and certified diabetes educator from the Genesis
Diabetes and Nutrition Learning Center, that I interviewed, artificial sweeteners are
highly recommended to replace sugar if possible in person’s diets.
2. The Calorie Control Council reports that after hundreds of years of use, scientists are
now publicly acknowledging that these artificial sweeteners are believed to be safe for
humans.
3. Substituting artificial sweeteners clearly helps to control or reduce weight and
improve one’s overall health.
4. For diabetics the reasoning is obvious, artificial sweeteners have been said to
completely change some individual diabetics’ attitudes towards their disease and in
some cases their attitude on their entire life in general.
5. Employees of the company that produces Nutrasweet state that they have received
hundreds of letters from diabetics and relatives of diabetics, describing how aspartame
has transformed their lives.
C. Like all things though, any thing in excess could potentially be bad for an individual. The
dietitian and diabetes educator that I spoke to made a point to ensure I knew that all things
should be in moderation.
D. The confusion comes from not being educated on the topic. It is necessary to be
informed.
1. While in high school my principal would consistently tell people not to drink diet pop
and to stay away from all artificial sweeteners.
2. Many students listened to her believing she was more educated and therefore trusted
that she knew the truth on the issue.
3. I now know she was completely wrong and misinformed a great number of people,
who could have been potentially benefiting themselves.
COM 357 Informative Speech
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Conclusion
Artificial sweeteners are more and more prominent in our lives everyday. Although there
are already many different kinds, I am sure more will be developed in the future. As there are
negative and positive thoughts among people on the effects of these artificial sweeteners, I
believe it is important to remember to stay informed and believe only what has truly been
proven. I believe it is important to know what you are consuming.
It is likely that you or someone you know will benefit from being aware that artificial
sweeteners can be useful if trying to cut sugar out of your diet. In the future this is likely to
become even more important to you. While twenty percent of our population already has
diabetes, it is predicted in ten years that another twenty to thirty percent will also be diagnosed.
That is potentially fifty percent of our population. That is half of the people in this room. That is
half of the people that you know. Not only could artificial sweeteners become of value to you
while monitoring what you consume if that does happen to you, or someone you know, but
artificial sweeteners could also be of valuable to you if you begin to use them to cut out a good
amount of sugar now and are lucky enough to have a chance to prevent it.
COM 357 Informative Speech
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References
Artificial Sweeteners - American Diabetes Association. (n.d.). American Diabetes Association
Home Page - American Diabetes Association. Retrieved June 11, 2012, from
http://www.diabetes.org/food-and-fitness/food/what-can-i-eat/artificial-sweeteners/
Aspartame. [Brochure]. (1999). Atlanta: Calorie Control Council.
Emsley, J. (1994). The consumer's good chemical guide: a jargon-free guide to the chemicals of
everyday life. Oxford: W.H. Freeman.
Frey, Ph.D., R. J. (n.d.). Artificial sweeteners. Diet and Weight Loss. Retrieved June 11, 2012,
from http://www.diet.com/g/artificial-sweeteners
Kanarek, R. B., & Kaufman, R. (1991). Nutrition and behavior: new perspectives. New York:
Van Nostrand Reinhold.
Nabors, L. O. (2001). Alternative sweeteners (3. print. ed.). New York u.a.: Dekker.
Saccharin. [Brochure]. (1998). Atlanta: Calorie Control Council.
Sucralose. [Brochure]. (1998). Atlanta: Calorie Control Council.
Sweet Choices: Questions and Answers about Sweeteners in low-calorie foods and beverages.
(1998). Atlanta: Calorie Control Council.
Walters, D. E., Orthoefer, F. T., & DuBois, G. E. (1991). Sweeteners: discovery, molecular
design, and chemoreception : developed from a symposium sponsored by the Division of
Agricultural and Food Chemistry at the 199th National Meeting of the American
Chemical Society, Boston, Massachusetts, April 22-27, 1990. Washington, DC:
American Chemical Society.
Weerasinghe, D. K., & DuBois, G. E. (2008). Sweetness and sweeteners: biology, chemistry, and
psychophysics. Washington, D.C.: American Chemical Society :.