Posted on 05/11/2007 3:47:59 PM PDT by SmithL
PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- The makers of Splenda and Equal on Friday settled a lawsuit over Splenda's disputed advertising slogan — "Made from sugar so it tastes like sugar." The settlement came after the jury announced that it had reached a verdict.
Merisant Co., which makes Equal, accused Splenda of confusing consumers into thinking its product was healthier and more natural than other artificial sweeteners. Splenda's marketer, McNeil Nutritionals, countered that it simply has a better product backed by superior advertising.
A McNeil spokeswoman in the courtroom said the amount of the settlement wouldn't be announced. The two sides planned to issue a joint statement later Friday.
Chicago-based Merisant was seeking more than $200 million from McNeil — at least $183 million for unfair profits since 2003 and compensation for at least $25 million in lost sales.
The active ingredient in Splenda starts as pure cane sugar but is chemically altered to create a compound that contains no calories, according to McNeil. The final product contains no sugar.
The one-month trial focused mostly on Splenda's advertising slogan, but it ended in a settlement after the jury said it had reached a verdict Friday afternoon.
Settlement talks began after jurors asked the judge for a calculator and a white board, an indication that they were computing damages to be awarded...
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
Sounds like the OJ jury, who didn’t believe DNA could be real.
I always lean toward truth-in-advertising. I don’t think there is anything misleading about the slogan, unless you are one of endless morons who scoffs at simple chemistry.
All artificial sweetners taste aweful to me
to me splenda makes the drink feel like it has a fine sand in it.
Whenever I pour Splenda into my coffee, I can’t believe it’s not sugar!
Having lost in the marketplace, the plaintiff ginned up this garbage about a so-called deceptive ad.
All fake sugars taste bitter when sweet enough to taste like sugar.
I don’t like the taste of any artificial sweeteners. I drink coffee and ice tea with no sweeteners, natural or otherwise.
>All fake sugars taste bitter when sweet enough to tast like sugar.<
Actually, I usually take a full teaspoon of sugar in my tea, but can only tolerate a fraction of a packet of Splenda - too sweet!
I believe that Splenda can be baked into products. None of the other sweets can claim that. It is simply superior.
search for tagatose in a search engine
So splenda > all the other artifical sweeteners? Wonder if that’s the stuff they put in sugarless pies I buy at Safeway?
I’ll keep splenda in mind if I ever bake anything for a dieter or a diabetic.
I think it is the stuff. I used to work for a major (>400,000 sqft) bakery and we were always wishing for a fake sugar that would not break down with heat. Finally Splenda came along and it apparently it works. There are some cookbooks out that show how to use it. Check the website for the sweetener and you can probably find something.
Splenda is a second generation sweetener, all the others are first generation.
I like a “little” sugar in coffee. But Tea? I drink that straight
Try the herb “salvia” before they ban it
I love Splenda! The company that makes Equal was just pissed that Splenda was so profitable. Well, it wouldn’t be if Equal didn’t taste so bad!
Do try it! They make a fluffy kind that can be used cup for cup in a recipe calling for sugar. They also have a Baking Blend that is part sugar, part Splenda, and you usually use half of the amount of sugar called for in the recipe. It tastes good, too.
I think you mean ‘stevia’. I’ve tried that and it was truly disgusting! Some folks like it, but I thought it tasted awful.
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