Splenda: Will it hurt them?

[Zanzi's Mom]

I had surgery last week and when I came home I was put on a liquid diet for a few weeks. My qp is used to eating meals with me and now I am only able to have sugar free jello, popsicles, herbal tea and broth. I need to know if it is safe for him to ingest splenda. I do not use very much in my tea, maybe 2 packets to a hospital sized water pitcher full of tea. You can barely taste it.
He likes to have a sip or two. He completely turns his beak up at the jello and Popsicles although he likes to lick the Popsicle stick after it is gone. He is also drinking a few teaspoons of soup a day and not really wanting to eat his normal diet of fresh food and cockatiel blend.

I am not sure if he has gone off his food because I am not eating mine or he is getting too much soup ( low fat/ sodium chicken and beef broth very watery) and is not hungry. He still manages to have some oatmeal in the mornings.

Also are peppermint tea and green tea ok if he wants a taste?

Thoughts?

[Parrotpeople]

I personally would not use, give to my children or pets any artificial sweeteners. Read up on the stuff; it's shocking that it is FDA approved. People may say Splenda isn't as bad as the others, but the low down just isn't out there yet ... it may be made from real sugar, but there are chemicals involved. I use raw sugar only.

[DarwinTheSun]

I agree. Would not even use it myself...chemicals=bad!
It even tastes like metal.

[4HAND]

I used Splenda for a year in my coffee dailly and developed a sort of "skin crawling"feeling that made it hard to sleep at night.Ten days after I discontinued useing it the symptoms stopped and never returned.I wouldn't risk it on a bird.You may want to check out an herbal sweetner called Stevia for yourself.Any teas that have caffiene are not safe for birds but herbal should be OK.
Tena

[Zanzi's Mom]

Yes, thank you all for the responses. I know the sweeteners are not that great, but he tries to insist on having only what he has seen me spoon into my mouth you know? In other words, if I fix him a few bites of the familys regular food in a dish he looks at me crazy. I think I will try stevia again. I appreciate the responses from everyone. ;)

[kathleen]

If you make the tea yourself, you can put a portion of it on side for the fid before you add your splenda so his will be without. I do that often while I'm cooking. I'll put some on the side before I salt it for myself.