Splenda

Splenda is one of the world's most recognizable brands of sugar substitutes, launched as a result of the discovery of sucralose in 1976. The discovery occurred at Queen Elizabeth College, University of London, during a research project between Tate & Lyle and university scientists. It was famously discovered by accident when a researcher misheard an instruction to 'test' a chemical as 'taste,' leading to the realization that the compound was incredibly sweet and heat-stable.

Following its discovery, the brand was developed through a partnership between the British sugar company Tate & Lyle and Johnson & Johnson's subsidiary, McNeil Nutritionals. It received FDA approval in 1998 and quickly rose to dominate the artificial sweetener market, particularly in North America, due to its ability to be used in baking—a feat many other sweeteners cannot achieve.

In 2015, the brand underwent a significant ownership change when it was acquired from Johnson & Johnson by Heartland Food Products Group, an American company based in Indiana. Today, Heartland oversees the brand's global presence and has expanded the product line to include natural alternatives like stevia and monk fruit, while Tate & Lyle remains a key partner as the primary manufacturer of the sucralose ingredient used in the original yellow-packet formulation.