Lite, lies and calories | Doc du dimanche | France 5

When they burst onto the market in the 1990s, lite products occupied the shelves and attracted one quarter of consumers. However, over recent years, they have been accused of all sorts of evil: they are more expensive, more chemical, less tasty and they may represent a health risk. Whether lite in fat or in sugar they appeal to customers eager to keep their figure. Yet, there’s no evidence they help lose weight: some nutritionists even suspect they cause weight gain. At the center of the debate is aspartame, a sweetener found in nearly 6000 products. Some scientists claim that it is a carcinogenic and are asking for it to be banned.