A 2023 study found that a chemical linked to the artificial sweetener sucralose, called sucralose-6-acetate, caused damage to DNA and increased gut wall permeability in lab experiments. The research, led by Susan Schiffman from North Carolina State University, detected this compound in commercial sucralose samples at levels up to 0.67%. The findings suggested that the chemical might be genotoxic, meaning it could harm genetic material, and also caused "leaky gut," a condition where the gut lining becomes more permeable, potentially allowing harmful substances into the bloodstream. The study also found increased activity in genes related to inflammation, oxidative stress, and cancer risk in intestinal cells exposed to the chemical. These findings raised questions about the safety of sucralose, but further evaluations have provided more context. In 2026, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) conducted a comprehensive review of sucralose and concluded that its approved uses remain safe. The EFSA noted that the 2023 study did not prove that typical sucralose consumption causes DNA damage in humans. It also suggested that the compounds found in the study might have been impurities present in the sucralose used in the experiments. The EFSA reaffirmed the acceptable daily intake of 15 milligrams per kilogram of body weight and confirmed that people's dietary exposure to sucralose remains below this limit. Another study published in 2026 in the journal Food and Chemical Toxicology tested commercial-grade sucralose using various genetic toxicity tests on cells and animals. Most of these tests showed no signs of mutations or chromosome damage. A study in genetically modified mice also found no increase in mutations. However, one test called a comet assay detected some DNA damage signals in several tissues, though the researchers had difficulty interpreting the results. Overall, they concluded that the findings did not indicate that sucralose is genotoxic. The 2023 study also raised concerns about how much sucralose-6-acetate a person might consume unknowingly. Schiffman pointed out that the European Food Safety Authority has a threshold of toxicological concern for genotoxic substances of 0.15 micrograms per day per person. She noted that the trace amounts of sucralose-6-acetate in a single, daily sucralose-sweetened drink could potentially exceed that threshold. However, exceeding this threshold does not automatically mean the substance causes DNA damage or disease. Other research has looked into whether sucralose affects appetite or metabolism. A 2025 study in Nature Metabolism found that sucralose increased feelings of hunger and blood flow in the hypothalamus, a brain region involved in controlling appetite, compared to sugar. A 2026 review of 23 studies on sucralose and cardiometabolic health found mixed results regarding blood sugar regulation. Some studies reported negative effects, while others found no impact. The review authors highlighted that these findings are separate from the original concerns about DNA damage. The EFSA also noted an unresolved issue regarding the long-term effects of heating sucralose at high temperatures. Under certain conditions, chlorine from sucralose may combine with other compounds, and the health effects of these new substances are not fully understood. This uncertainty led the EFSA to delay approval of expanded use of sucralose in certain baked goods. Similar concerns could apply to home cooking, where heating conditions vary. However, this issue is distinct from the 2023 findings about sucralose-6-acetate.