The Lab Mistake That Changed Food Forever

You have scientist Constantin Fahlberg to thank for your favorite sweet treats! By accidentally getting residue in his mouth after working in his lab, Fahlberg discovered what we use as artificial sweeteners today. However, don't try taste-testing at home kids! (Unless it's geology.) Hear the story from host Maren Hunsberger.

[avariceseven]

I know some people are sensitive to artificial sweetener, but i wonder how many have tried licking the sugar straight and then got disappointed forever cause it tasted horrible.

I’ve done the same when i was a kid cause my grandpa was diabetic. His artificial sweetener was horrible. A little sweet with a lot of weird taste, almost bitter. Then, now im diabetic too and these sweeteners are my saviors. I can drink and eat sweet food without worrying about my blood sugar too much. I use splenda or stevia.

[WastelandMedic]

I will never forget sitting in college Sociology and my professor saying “All the really fun science can’t be done because it’s unethical.”

[michaelcaprioli]

My grandmother loved to sip liquid saccharin back in the 60's. She died of colon cancer when I was 5.

[uhohhotdog]

Artificial sweeteners taste terrible. Only real sugar for me

[ForumArcade]

I really don't understand when people say things like "300X sweeter than sugar", because I've tasted this stuff, and all it tastes like to me is sugar that has been mixed with cleaning agents. How are they measuring sweetness?

[abxorb]

I really like your glasses, very colourful! 🌈

[christopher]

Don't forget Swiss chemist Albert Hofmann accidentally ingesting lysergic acid in his lab in 1938. 🤩

[AnonymousAnarchist]

Meanwhile, anytime I taste the science all I get is retraining orders and told that tradition does not protect me legally, nor make it ethical.

Maybe I shouldnt have tried in Sociology.


Yes that was a cannibal joke.

[Thoran]

Lesson learned: Taste new substances in case they are sweet.

[ernestcline]

Don't forget glucinium, an obsolete alternative name for beryllium.

[dd_]

Men need to wash their hands. (Women too, but mostly men.)

[joeanderson]

I don't use any artificial sweeteners.

[AroundTheBlockAgain]

I wonder what Fahlberg's other magically-not-toxic experiments that day tasted like

[shaneboor]

I hear lead is sweet also, but i don't want to put it in my food either 😂

[WanderTheNomad]

Big Sugar doesn't want you finding out about this

[Andrewk-uq]

🤦‍♂️ dam.. & if Those particular product weren't allowed to make it through our Highly dysfunctional for profits FDA....

Our whole society would be much healthier & better of, with better functioning emotional & cognitive functions. 🤦‍♂️

But they're just scratching the surface

[SAOS]

One does taste the science in paleontology.

[dezmonavant]

Makes me wonder how many other sweaters have been created but we never realized it

[sidPalma]

The like is for not using vocal fry and upspeak.

[GreenPoint_one]

I dont wanna take sweeteners p-p
It tastes chemical