As much as we might not like to admit it, it is possible to have too much of a good thing. Whether it’s the tastiest dessert in the world, sunny weather, your all-time favorite film or spending time with your best friend, we can’t fully appreciate the magic of those things if we have access to them 24/7. Everything in moderation!

Well, one professor learned this lesson the hard way after indulging in a few too many sugar-free gummy bears that her colleague left out on their desk. Now, she’s threatening to kick her coworker out of the country because of the tummy troubles the candy caused. Below, you’ll find the full story, as well as conversations with Kirsten Jackson, Consultant Gut Health Dietitian, and Navin Khosla, Registered Pharmacist and Clinical Safety Officer at NowPatient.

This professor ended up in hot water after a colleague ate an entire bowl of their sugar-free gummy bears

Image credits: drazenphoto (not the actual photo)

Now, they’re wondering if they should actually be concerned about getting sued

Image credits: HerbyCastle

Image credits: HerbyCastle

Many readers found the story amusing, and some provided the author with helpful legal advice

After meeting with HR, the professor shared an update on the situation

Image credits: Pressmaster (not the actual photo)

Image credits: voronaman111 (not the actual photo)

Image credits: HerbyCastle

“Some sweeteners contain ‘sugar alcohols’, which have a laxative impact on anyone depending on their sensitivity and how much they consume”

Sharing is caring. And especially in the workplace, being generous is a great way to make friends or grow closer to your colleagues. Baked too many cookies over the weekend? Bring the leftovers to the office! Have more flower seeds than your garden can handle? Your coworkers might be interested in growing some petunias too!

But apparently we need to be careful with what we share, because it might come back to bite us if we give our colleagues sugar-free sweets. To learn more about this situation, we got in touch with Kirsten Jackson, Consultant Gut Health Dietitian, and Navin Khosla, Registered Pharmacist and Clinical Safety Officer at NowPatient. They were both kind enough to have a chat with Bored Panda and explain why sugar-free sweets can sometimes cause a laxative effect.

“When sugar is removed, a sugar-free alternative is needed, which means using sweeteners. Some sweeteners contain ‘sugar alcohols’, which have a laxative impact on anyone depending on their sensitivity and how much they consume,” Kirsten shared. “This happens as they draw water into the large bowel causing stools to be loose and sometimes urgent.”

“Some sugar-free candy and gums contain sweeteners known as polyols (such as sorbitol, xylitol and erythritol),” Navin explained. “Polyols are not fully absorbed by the body, but are instead fermented in the intestines, causing diarrhea, gas, or bloating, causing a laxative effect in some people if consumed in large quantities.”

So should these sugar-free treats be reserved only for people with diabetes or other special health conditions? “Even for people with diabetes, we don’t recommend taking a lot of these due to the potential laxative impact,” Kirsten noted. “It is actually advised just to eat regular sweets but in moderation.”

“Sugar-free candy doesn’t need to be reserved just for people who are diabetic or have other health issues,” Navin says. “Reducing sugar intake is healthy for everyone, whether you are diabetic or not.”

“You should always read the packaging on food labels [and look at] the list of ingredients to check whether it is suitable for you”

Finally, we asked the experts what recommendations they have for people who want to enjoy sugar-free sweets but have sensitive stomachs. And thankfully, they both noted that some sweeteners are safer to consume without worrying about tummy troubles.

“Look at products which contain other sweeteners that don’t have a laxative effect – sucralose, stevia, aspartame are examples,” Kirsten says. “So checking the label is ideal. Their tolerance of sugar alcohol sweeteners is likely less than that of people who don’t have digestive issues. They even need to check chewing gum, as this is one that regularly catches people out, and it even states on the packet ‘may have a laxative’ effect.”

Navin also says it’s wise to “avoid consuming dairy products with sugar-free candy, as it could trigger diarrhea.” And it’s wise to avoid eating too much candy period.

He also suggests checking what sugar substitute is used before eating something. “Avoid sorbitol and xylitol, as these can cause cramps, and diarrhea. Safer options include Stevia.”

“Whether you are diabetic or not, you should always read the packaging on food labels [and look at] the list of ingredients to check whether it is suitable for you and to always consume any food in moderation,” Navin added.

We would love to hear your thoughts on this situation in the comments below, pandas. Do you think this professor did anything wrong by leaving out some sugar-free gummy bears? Feel free to weigh in, and then if you’re interested in checking out another Bored Panda piece featuring more accounts from people who ate sugar-free gummy bears, look no further than right here! 

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