Just when I thought Splenda was being neglected up here, I found this "Fruit Juice Cocktail"

Ingredients: Water, Cranberry Juice, Maltodextrin, Natural Cranberry Flavour, Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C), Sucralose

Nutritional Info:
Per 175 ml (3/4 cup)
21 Cal/90 kJ
0.0g Protein
0.0g Fat
5.0g Carbs
23 mg Sucralose

100% RDA Vitamin C

(Master Choice is the upscale house brand of A&P, Superfresh, Food Basics, and maybe others as well)

Yeah, nice they're using the sucralose, but why on earth do they need the maltodextrin then? Yikes.

I'm not sure if this is the only reason, but have you ever tasted raw cranberries? Yikes! (i.e. tart enough to make your cheeks implode) Compare any cranberry beverage you like, and you will find either sugar/sucrose/fructose as the second ingredient, or apple/grape juice.

5g carb per 175ml is good enough for me.

Kipling

Indeed, I HAVE tasted raw cranberries (and all the other fruits and juices available). That's why I use Splenda or Stevia when making cranberry jelly, for example. I don't find a need for the maltodextrin when I have the Splenda or Stevia... that's why I question it. A caloric sweetener based on fructose is not the only choice out there.