Sucralose byproduct signals DNA damage in cells, but human risk remains unproven

Initial lab work linked sucralose-6-acetate, a byproduct, to DNA damage and leaky gut in cultured human cells. However, follow-up studies and the European safety review in 2026 found no clear evidence that everyday sucralose consumption harms people, keeping the sweetener approved for current uses, though some assays show mixed results and heating-related byproducts remain under investigation.