McNeil Nutritionals, the makers of Splenda, filed a lawsuit against the Sugar Association in 2005 to silence their attempts at raising consumer awareness that Splenda is not natural, as it is made out to be.
Part of the Association's efforts included establishing a Web site, www.truthaboutsplenda.com, which publishes information about Splenda, including comments from consumers who feel deceived by Splenda's advertising.
According to the Sugar Association, Splenda's claim that the artificial sweetener is "made from sugar so it tastes like sugar" is false and deceptive advertising, as Splenda contains no sugar and is not natural.
In March 2006, a Delaware District Court dismissed the lawsuit, which claimed the Sugar Association engaged in false advertising. Now, McNeil Nutritionals has filed a counter-suit against the Sugar Association in a further attempt to silence the group and have their anti-Splenda Web site shut down.
Lawsuit Alleges Splenda Plant Lowered Property Value and Quality of LifeMeanwhile, 29 residents who live near Tate & Lyle's sucralose (the main ingredient in Splenda) manufacturing plant in McIntosh, Alabama — the only sucralose plant in North America — have filed a lawsuit against the company.
The suit alleges that the plant has hurt their property value and lowered their quality of life because of excessive noise, noxious odor and trespassing by the company.
The residents are also reportedly experiencing medical problems including respiratory problems, watering eyes and others that may be associated with exposure to phosgene gas, a poisonous gas used extensively during World War I as a choking agent, which is thought to be used in the artificial sweetener's production process. 
