Sweeteners Exposed: Acesulfame Potassium
Ingredient Name: Acesulfame potassium
E-number: E-950
Alternative Names: Acesulfame K, Ace-K, ACK, Sweetener (950), market names (e.g. Sunett, Sweet One)
Use in Food: Acesulfame potassium is one of the five FDA-approved calorie-free artificial sweeteners currently used in the US. As it is around 180-200 times sweeter than sucrose (common sugar), very small amounts of the additive produce the desired sweetness in a variety of foods. Unlike other artificial sweeteners (such as aspartame) acesulfame potassium is stable at high temperatures and pH levels, enabling its use in baked goods. It also increases the sweetness shelf life of many products (IFIC Foundation, 2009).
In the US, acesulfame potassium is used as a tabletop sweetener, and is added to carbonated/ non-carbonated beverages (including fruit juices/concentrates, sodas, alcoholic beverages), desserts, dairy products (ice cream, yogurt, milk drinks), confectionery, jams/jellies/preserves, sauces and condiments, chewing gum, pharmaceuticals/vitamin supplements, toothpaste/mouthwash, and many other products. (Calorie Control Council, 2007)
Acesulfame potassium is often used in addition to other artificial sweeteners, such as aspartame and saccharin, to give a blended, more sugar-like sweetness, superior to the taste of each individual additive.
Benefits: The calorie control council (2007) lists some benefits of acesulfame potassium. In addition to being a no-calorie substitute for sugar (suitable for baking, and addition to acidic/basic environments), acesulfame potassium is sodium-free, does not promote tooth decay, is not metabolized (and is excreted unchanged), and is suitable for people with diabetes.
Acesulfame potassium has been approved for use in many countries, and since 1988 by the US FDA. Its safety and suitability for human consumption has been reviewed and approved repeatedly by many independent organizations. The FDA has set an Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI) of 15mg/kg body weight in the US. (IFIC Foundation, 2009)
Controversy/ Safety concerns: Though less controversial than its fellow sweeteners aspartame and saccharin, some concerns have been raised over the safety of acesulfame potassium.
Some people are concerned that artificial sweeteners such as acesulfame potassium may cause headaches, allergic responses or contribute to cancerous effects. While extensive studies of the effects of acesulfame potassium have found no link between the additive and cancer or other toxicological/mutagenic conditions (NIH, 2005; Kroger et al. 2006), others believe that more research needs to be done, especially into long-term effects of consumption (CSPI reports). There is no substantiating evidence that acesulfame potassium can cause allergic reactions. While it does contain sulfur, its structure is different from sulfite, a known allergen. (IFIC Foundation, 2009)
However, critics of artificial sweeteners also point out that while they are often used in “sugar-free” or “diet” foods, they are not always beneficial for health or weight loss (Obesity Community blog, 2008). Some argue that artificial sweeteners encourage people to over-compensate while eating, thinking that they can have a larger serving size if it doesn’t contain high-caloric sugar. It should also be noted that artificial sweeteners are often used in foods with very little nutritional value, or “empty calories”. In other words, acesulfame potassium and other sweeteners may be deemed safe, but not necessarily healthy.
References:
Calorie Control Council (2007). Sweet Facts about acesulfame potassium. Viewed online June 4, 2009. Online: http://www.acesulfamek.org/
CSPI reports. Sample quotes from cancer experts’ letters on acesulfame potassium testing. Viewed online June 4, 2009. Online: http://www.howstuffworks.com/framed.htm?parent=artificial-sweetener.htm&url=http://www.cspinet.org/reports/asekquot.html
IFIC Foundation (2009). Everything you need to know about acesulfame potassium. Viewed online June 4, 2009. Online: http://www.ific.org/publications/brochures/acekbroch.cfm
Kroger et al. (2006). Low-calorie sweeteners and other sugar substitutes: A review of the safety issues. Viewed online June 4, 2009. Online: http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/118607158/abstract?CRETRY=1&SRETRY=0
National Institutes of Health (2005). Toxicity studies of acesulfame potassium. Viewed online June 4, 2009. Online: http://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/files/GMM2_Web.pdf
Obesity Community blog (2008). How healthy are your sugar substitutes? Viewed online June 4, 2009. Online: http://www.wellsphere.com/obesity-article/how-healthy-are-your-sugar-substitutes/127606
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