Is Equal sweetener really zero calories?

I know for one packet, it is supposedly zero calories, but is this true for lets say 10 packets? Are there any artificial sweeteners that are truly ZERO calories?

Even if they were 0.9 cals each, 10 packets would still be under 10 cals.  And in a daily diet of 2000 cals or so, that makes very little material difference.

But, if the serving size of a food gives it less than 5 calories, it can be claimed to be zero calories. So, it could be 4 calories even. Which would be 40 caloires a day. It is still not a BIG deal, but still, it's good to keep in mind.

It's actually something I've been wondering too.  I don't use Equal, but in the US, when I've used Splenda packets, they say "0 calories".  Up here in Canada, my Splenda box says that 1 tsp has 2 calories.  Since the stuff is made in the US, it has to be the same thing (we're not a big enough market to reblend!!), so I'm guessing both Equal and Splenda have SOME calories, which would add up if you were having a fair amount of it in various things.

Don't know how authoritative it is, but another database I use is www.calorieking.com, and it says Equal (like Splenda) is 2 calories per packet:  http://www.calorieking.com/foods/calories-in-suga r-substitutes-equal-powdered_f-Y2lkPTE5NDc5Jm JpZD0zMjkmZmlkPTE5MzM3JmVpZD0zMTgwOTIwNjMmcG9 zPTEmcGFyPSZrZXk9ZXF1YWw.html

 

The simple answer is no, it is not without calories. Equal is a dipeptide (2 amino acids bonded together). Amino acids are the compounds that make up protein. 1g of protein is 4 calories or kilocalories (the same for carbohydrates). Additionally this dipeptide is so sweet that only a fraction of it is needed to give the same sweetness as sugar or sucrose. Since a low concentration yields the same sweetness, it is virtually calorie free.  

Splenda is similar but it is a carbohydrate rather than an amino acid. The glucose has a additional hydroxyl group which makes it sweeter than regular sugar. Therefore a low concentration yields the same sweetness.

There is alot of biochemistry involved. I tried to keep it simple.

 

 

No.. unfortunately no man-made food is without some calories. It actually clocks in at about 2 calories per packet.

It is 4 calories/pack.

 

So is splenda.

 

Have 10 packets = 40 calories.

Try stevia. It's a natural sweetener, not a chemical. Stevia also has "zero" calories.