In March, a 10-year-old in Punjab tragically died after a eating her birthday cake. Recently, a report found high levels of a synthetic sweetener in cakes supplied by the bakery in question. The report, according to which the cakes contained high amounts of saccharin, has revived the discussion on the safety of the sugar substitute. The biggest question, probably, is that even though artificial sweeteners offer a solution for calorie trackers, are they really safe?

What are artificial sweeteners?

Said to be hundreds of times sweeter than sugar, artificial sweeteners, also known as non-nutritive sugar substitutes, that sweeten your food without adding calories to your overall diet. These sugar imitators come in a variety forms, from powder to liquid and are widely used in cakes, drinks and even pharmaceuticals. These flavoring agents contain less or no calories but taste just as sweet as sugar. These are extremely sweet, up to 200 to 600 times sweeter than regular sugar, so only a small amount is needed for the same level of sweetness, says Dr Himika Chawla, consultant endocrinologist, PSRI Hospital.

How do they work?

Artificial sweeteners mimic the taste of sugar. They fit into the receptors on your tongue just like sugar does, sending signals to your brain that you re tasting something sweet. However, they don’t contain the same calories or have the effect on your blood sugar levels that sugar does. Since most people might not be aware of how much sweeter artificial sweeteners can be than regular sugar, excessive consumption could even lead to health risks such as cardio toxicity and brain stroke.

Side effects of artificial sweeteners

Although major regulatory bodies set acceptable daily intake limits (ADIs) for approved sweeteners, a recent study suggests that further research is needed. Here are a few health hazards that daily consumption could pose:

Long-term effects: Frequent use of a sweetener was associated with an increased risk of stroke in a study conducted by the Cleveland Clinic. Dr Prabhat Ranjan

Sinha, senior consultant, Internal Medicine, Aakash Healthcare, advises caution on long-term use due to this possible link with heart disease and stroke.

Although major regulatory bodies set acceptable daily intake limits (ADIs) for approved sweeteners, a recent study suggests that further research is needed. Here are a few health hazards that daily consumption could pose:

Gut health: Artificial sweeteners can disrupt the gut microbiome, which plays an important role in digestion, immunity and weight management. Studies show that artificial sweeteners might indirectly affect the gut by altering the way we taste and process food. This could lead to changes in dietary choices and gut health

Potential for weight gain: Studies show that artificial sweeteners trick the body into craving more calories, leading to weight gain. Dietician Nivya Vikal explains that these sweeteners completely disable the brain’s reward system, leading to a constant feeling of hunger even after eating something sweet.

Personal sensitivities: While artificial sweeteners are generally safe for most people within the ADI limit, some individuals may experience unpleasant side effects such as headaches and dizziness.

On Thursday, Alphabet Inc., the company behind Google, poured the news that it will start paying out dividends to all share holders for 20 cents per share.

This is the key element of the company’s financial agenda which includes a whopping $70 billion stock repurchase program instead of making new investments. Google saw its shares jump up 15% after its earnings for the first quarter came out and, as it turned out, surpassed the company’s expectations. The news came straight after the release of Alphabet’s financial results.

‘Our results in the first quarter reflect strong performance’: Pichai

Alphabet Inc. is now set to follow Meta‘s path regarding the history of shaped dividend declaration, which took place in February.

“Our results in the first quarter reflect strong performance from Search, YouTube and Cloud. We are well under way with our Gemini era and there’s great momentum across the company. Our leadership in AI research and infrastructure, and our global product footprint, position us well for the next wave of AI innovation,” Alphabet Inc and Google’s CEO Sundar Pichai stated.

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Alphabet’s robust financial position, with $108 billion in cash and marketable securities as of the end of March 2024, provides a solid foundation for such shareholder-friendly actions.

The timing of this announcement is particularly noteworthy as it coincides with the one-year anniversary of Alphabet’s previous identically-sized stock repurchase authorization.

Alphabet’s dividend will be distributed across all classes of shares, ensuring that super-voting Class B shareholders and nonvoting Class C shareholders are included.

Notably, the majority of Google investors hold Class A shares.

The dividend is scheduled to be paid to all shareholders on record as of June 10, with the distribution occurring within the same month.

The implications of this dividend are substantial for Alphabet’s co-founders

Sergey Brin, holding over 730 million Class B and C shares, is set to receive a staggering $146 million payout.

Larry Page, with 389 million Class B shares, will receive a dividend payment amounting to $78 million.

The tech industry has been under scrutiny, with investors seeking signs of maturity and stability. Since 2022, major tech firms have initiated layoffs and tightened their belts financially. These austerity measures have been well-received by investors, who have also reacted positively to the initiation of share buybacks and dividends.

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Meta’s dividend announcement earlier this year propelled its shares to a more than 14% increase.

Amazon stands out for not having issued a dividend or authorized a share buyback on the scale of Google’s. Amazon’s largest buyback to date was a $10 billion authorization in 2022.

The e-commerce giant is expected to report its first-quarter earnings on the upcoming Tuesday.