Ingredient Index · E955

Is Sucralose banned in Europe?

Legal in both

No: sucralose (E955) is authorized as a sweetener in both the EU and the US, so the "banned in Europe" claim is a myth. Both jurisdictions set maximum levels by food category.

E-number: E955CAS: 56038-13-2 Also seen as: Splenda, E955, Trichlorogalactosucrose

What the EU does

Not banned, and not even close. Sucralose is authorized across the EU as food additive E955 under Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008, with maximum levels set per food category. That per-category cap is how the EU handles every sweetener; it is the normal shape of authorization, not a sign of special suspicion.

EFSA has assessed sucralose and set an acceptable daily intake of 15 mg per kilogram of body weight. The agency opened a re-evaluation of the sweetener as part of its routine review program, which is standard housekeeping rather than a safety alarm. As things stand, E955 sits on the authorized list with no restriction that an American shopper would notice.

Citation Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008, Annex II (E955); EFSA ADI 15 mg/kg bw/day

What the US does

Equally legal. The FDA first approved sucralose in 1998 and broadened it to a general-purpose sweetener in 1999, under 21 CFR 172.831. It is one of the most widely used high-intensity sweeteners in the American food supply, marketed most familiarly as Splenda.

Some 2022 and 2023 laboratory and animal research raised questions about effects on the gut microbiome and, in one study, on DNA. No regulator has acted on those findings, and they remain a research conversation rather than a policy one. The honest summary: sucralose is permitted on both sides of the Atlantic, treated similarly, and the "banned in Europe" label is simply wrong.

Citation 21 CFR 172.831 (sucralose); FDA general-purpose approval, 1999

Products that commonly contain it

Sucralose is a zero-calorie sweetener roughly 600 times sweeter than sugar. You will find it in:

Splenda tabletop packets and baking blends
Diet and zero-sugar sodas and drink mixes
Sugar-free gum, candy, and ice cream
Protein powders, bars, and "no sugar added" baked goods

What to look for on a label

The same sweetener shows up under a few names:

"Sucralose" in the ingredient list
"Splenda", the dominant US brand name
"E955" on EU-labeled products
Often blended with acesulfame potassium, which sharpens sweetness and masks aftertaste

Or skip the squinting: paste the whole ingredient list into our checker and it flags everything in our database. Nothing you paste leaves your browser.

Frequently asked questions

Is sucralose banned in Europe?

No. Sucralose is authorized as food additive E955 under Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008, with maximum levels per food category. It is permitted across the EU.

Is Splenda the same as sucralose?

Splenda is the best-known brand of sucralose. The sweetening ingredient is sucralose; Splenda products also contain bulking agents like maltodextrin or dextrose.

Is sucralose legal in the United States?

Yes. The FDA approved it in 1998 and made it a general-purpose sweetener in 1999, under 21 CFR 172.831. It is one of the most common high-intensity sweeteners in US foods.

Is sucralose bad for your gut?

Some 2022 and 2023 lab and animal studies raised questions about gut-microbiome effects, but no regulator has changed its position, and EFSA keeps an acceptable daily intake of 15 mg/kg. It remains a research question, not a regulatory finding.

Related ingredients

Primary sources

Last reviewed June 15, 2026 · How we assign statuses