WASHINGTON, February 14, 2005 - Today, the National Grange joined other agricultural and consumer organizations in a Washington, D.C. press conference to challenge the advertising and marketing practices of Splenda, an artificial sweetener.

Splenda is an artificial, chemical sweetener, yet the makers of Splenda continue to market it as a "natural product," and polls suggest that half of all American consumers believe their claims.

"Splenda's marketing techniques are unfair to farmers and the entire agricultural industry," said Richard Weiss, chief operating officer of the National Grange. "When farmers have to compete against chemistry pretending to be natural, it puts them at a disadvantage that affects their ability to provide quality products for consumers."

Speaking for the "rest of agriculture," Weiss said that if left unchecked, Splenda's marketing claims would set a precedent affecting all of agriculture. "Next it will be made from corn to taste like corn or made from beef to taste like beef."

Weiss called on the appropriate government agencies to take a hard look at Splenda's advertising claims and challenged the Splenda marketing people to "tell it like it is - artificial."

To further reiterate its concern, the National Grange submitted a letter to the Honorable Deborah Platt Majoras, chairman of the United States Federal Trade Commission. In the letter, the 138 year-old agriculture and rural living advocacy group said that this issue is about honesty as much as anything.

For more information on these efforts, please visit www.nationalgrange.org or call 202-628-3507, ext. 116.

Founded in 1867, the National Grange is the nation's oldest general agricultural and rural advocacy organization. It has grassroots units in 3,600 local communities in 39 states, with nearly 300,000 members. It advocates for rural America on a wide variety of economic, educational, legislative and family issues. Pictures are available upon request. Simply E-mail Shaletta Espie at sespie@nationalgrange.org.