What Won't They Do For Science?

I was searching last night for sugar-free recipes. As one thing led to another I eventually looked up Splenda. This then led to Sucralose. Person that I am I was intrigued when I saw a page that promised to detail it's history; so I clicked and read.

Wow! It turns out that the discovery of Sucralose was a total accident. According to an article on Shapefit.com, two scientists working for Tate & Lyle in England were searching for a new insecticide. In their search the scientists were working with sugar. More precisely, the selective chlorination of sucrose. ????? I don't know what it means either!

Anyway, one day, one of the scientists asked the other to "Test" the substance that was just created. The second scientist thought he was told to "Taste" the substance. So he did. It was sweet. Ka-ching!!! Splenda is born.There's one thing I don't understand though. If you're working on making a new insecticide why would you think your partner told to "Taste" it? And even more puzzling, why would go ahead and taste it?? I suppose you have to be a dedicated scientist.

© 2008 Barry T Horst


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