Beware of "Diet Sweet Tea"
When I first saw the commercial to name a product Diet "Sweet Tea" seemed like an oxymoron. Being from the south I loved sweet tea before surgery. I thought I would give it a try. Before I did I called the local McDonalds and asked what was in the Diet Sweet Tea. They told me it was sweeten with Splenda. Ok, I can live with that. I stopped by on my way to work and bought one. From the first sip to the last it was so sweet, I am a chocolate/sweet girl and I know sweet. I had never used Splenda and thought OMG I have found the miracle sweetener. I went out and bought some Splenda, and used 2 packets. Nope, didn't taste the same. I used 3 packets, nope not even close. 4, 5, and 6..now I am worried about the cause and effect using so much of an artificial sweetener.
I checked the nutrition list on the home site and it did not list Diet Sweet Tea. I emailed McDonalds and asked what was in it, what was it sweetened with? Here is what they sent me.... sweetened with Splenda my a** It's true what we are told, stay away from fast food joints!~
On Mar 12, 2014, at 2:08 AM, wrote:
Thank you for taking the time to contact McDonald's for ingredient and allergen information.
To obtain the most current ingredient and allergen information for McDonald's standard menu items, visit the website at www.mcdonalds.com. Available allergen information will always be listed on the menu item's ingredient statement.
For your convenience, I have included the ingredient information for the diet sweet tea below. Water, Orange Pekoe and Pekoe Cut Black Tea, Aspartame, Sucralose, Acesulfame Potassium
McDonald's has worked with the Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network (FAAN) to help consolidate all allergen information within our ingredient statements. The FAAN encourages customers with food allergies to regularly read ingredient statements because ingredients may have changed. Again, McDonald's recommends you visit the website, www.mcdonalds.com, for the most current information about our products. We also recommend that you speak with your health care provider if the information you are seeking cannot be found on our website or printed materials.
We also want you to know that, despite taking precautions, normal kitchen operations may involve some shared cooking and preparation areas and utensils, and the possibility exists for your food items to come in contact with other food products, including other allergens.
Again, thank you for taking the time to contact McDonald's and we look forward to serving you again soon.
Sara
McDonald's Customer Response Center
ref#:10869226
Well, they were sort of accurate. Splenda is a brand name for sucralose. The aspartame would be a deal breaker for me, though. Not sure about the acesulfame potassium.
Glad I like my tea unsweetened!
Surgery: RNY on 12/18/2013 with Jay M. Snow, MD "Don't mistake my kindness for weakness." - Robert Herjavec, quoting Al Capone
- Aspartame
- Aspartame is an artificial, non-saccharide sweetener used as a sugar substitute in some foods and beverages. In the European Union, it is codified as E951. Aspartame is a methyl ester of the aspartic acid/phenylalanine dipeptide. Wikipedia
- Formula: C14H18N2O5
- IUPAC ID: N-(L-α-Aspartyl)-L-phenylalanine, 1-methyl ester
- Molar mass: 294.3 g/mol
- Melting point: 474.8°F (246°C)
- Density: 1.35 g/cm³
- Sucralose
- Sucralose is an artificial sweetener. The majority of ingested sucralose is not broken down by the body, so it is noncaloric. In the European Union, it is also known under the E number E955.Wikipedia
- Formula: C12H19Cl3O8
- IUPAC ID: 1,6-Dichloro-1,6-dideoxy-β-D-fructofuranosyl-4-chloro-4-deoxy-α-D-galactopyranoside
- Molar mass: 397.64 g/mol
- Melting point: 257°F (125°C)
- Acesulfame potassium Chemical Compound
- Acesulfame potassium is a calorie-free sugar substitute, also known as Acesulfame K or Ace K, and marketed under the trade names Sunett and Sweet One. In the European Union, it is known under the E number E950. Wikipedia
- Formula: C4H4KNO4S
- IUPAC ID: potassium 6-methyl-2,2-dioxo-2H-1,2λ6,3-oxathiazin-4-olate
- Density: 1.81 g/cm³
- Molar mass: 201.242 g/mol
- Melting point: 437°F (225°C)
I'm sure people will be super appalled about this ingredient list, vow to never drink diet sweet tea again and then will munch their protein bar (which they eat every day) and all will be well with the world!!
*SNORT!*
You made me pass tea (sweetened with Splenda, aka sucralose) through my nose.
It has mostly splenda plus other artificial sweeteners .... so unless you are allergic to the other 2 or really try to avoid them - they are kind off the same poisson...
I know that I can't take any one of them.. I get reaction.
Hala. RNY 5/14/2008; Happy At Goal =HAG
"I can eat or do anything I want to - as long as I am willing to deal with the consequences"
"Failure is not falling down, It is not getting up once you fell... So pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and start all over again...."
