Rite n Lite drinks are approved by the Philippines food safety regulatory body. The drink is safe to consume

Rite ‘N Lite is a sugar-free, zero-calorie carbonated beverage brand produced by ARC Refreshments Corporation in the Philippines. It offers a variety of refreshing flavors, including Lemon, Peach, and Root Beer etc. It is also free from Aspartame which is used as a sweetener in many products. 

But now the brand is being targeted for using ingredients like sucralose and acesulfame-K. Social media users are claiming that these ingredients are not safe to consume. These two are toxic and effects gut health.

However, Fact Crescendo found the claim to be false. Rite n Lite drinks are approved by FDA Philippines and are safe to consume.

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Fact Check- 

At first, we looked for validation and approval of Rite ‘N’ Lite drinks by food regulatory bodies. We found that Rite ‘N’ Lite carbonated drinks which are owned by ARC Refreshments Corporations, are approved by the Food and Drugs Administration Philippines.

Let’s check the safety of Acesulfame potassium and Sucralose. 

Acesulfame potassium:

Acesulfame potassium, also known as Ace-K or E950, is a sweetener that the FDA has approved for use in food and drinks. It was first approved in 1988 for certain products and later, in 2003, for general use as a sweetener and flavor enhancer. To make sure it is safe, the FDA carefully studied over 90 research studies on its effects, including risks related to metabolism, cancer, and reproduction. These studies confirmed that Ace-K is safe for consumption in approved amounts.

While the artificial sweetener acesulfame potassium (Ace-K) is considered generally safe by regulatory bodies, research suggests it can disrupt the gut microbiome and potentially lead to health issues like weight gain and chronic inflammation, particularly in mice. 

However, in 2005, the National Toxicology Program conducted a large animal study where they gave mice acesulfame potassium, making up 3% of their diet, for over 40 weeks. This is roughly equal to a person consuming more than 1,000 cans of soft drinks daily. The study found no evidence of increased toxicity. 

Sucralose: 

Some studies suggest that sucralose may affect the gut by reducing good bacteria by half. Research on animals also shows that it might cause inflammation, which, over time, could lead to health issues like obesity and diabetes.

However, sucralose is approved as a sweetener and is sold under the brand name Splenda. The FDA approved it for use in certain foods in 1998 and as a general sweetener in 1999. To make sure it is safe, the FDA reviewed over 110 studies on its effects, including its impact on metabolism, the nervous system, reproduction, and cancer risk. It also considered human studies, including those on people with diabetes.

Conclusion: 

Fact Crescendo found the claim to be false. Rite ‘N’ Lite carbonated drinks are approved by FDA Philippines. Although there are studies which say that Acesulfame Potassium and Sucralose may affect gut health, other regulatory bodies considered these two sweeteners as safe.