Guide to artificial sweeteners

Aspartame – a guide to artificial sweeteners

Aspartame is an artificial high-intensity sweetener that most people are familiar with. It is a well-tried ingredient that can be found in many different foods. At the same time, aspartame has endured massive criticism and suspicion. Many people believe that it is harmful and can cause all sorts of diseases and ailments. But what does aspartame consist of, what are its properties and does it belong in modern sugar reduction?

Acesulfame K – a guide to artificial sweeteners

Acesulfame K is fairly unknown among the artificial sweeteners. Perhaps the complicated name contributes to that. It is however a popular and inexpensive sweetener that does not provide any calories. It can also act as a flavour enhancer. But should you use it? That’s another story!

Sucralose – a guide to artificial sweeteners

Sucralose is a stable and inexpensive sweetener that is also calorie-free. It is however also an organochlorine compound, just like banned pesticides. Sucralose is broken down very slowly – what impact does it have on the environment?

Saccharin – a guide to artificial sweeteners

Saccharin is the oldest artificial sweetener. It was created as early as 1879. The history of saccharine has major political and economic dimensions – but it’s also humorous and even includes an American president. But what about its reputation and is it a safe ingredient?

Cyclamates – a guide to artificial sweeteners

Cyclamate is an artificial sweetener with relatively low sweetness but without strong off-flavours. It was discovered in the 1930s, approved in the United States in the 1950s, and banned in the same country in the 1960s. But in the EU it is actually an approved ingredient.

Advantame – guide to artificial sweeteners

Advantame is the latest artificial sweetener; it was approved in 2014 for use within the EU. It is similar to aspartame in taste and properties – though sweeter and better in many ways. Still, advantame has not yet had its big breakthrough.

Neotame – guide to artificial sweeteners

The company that accidentally discovered aspartame in the mid-1960s decided 25 years later to find the ‘perfect’ sweetener. This time, nothing was left to chance. The US company devoted seven years of intensive research, ploughing down $ 80 million, and testing 2,500 candidates, before one day finding its winner… In this article, you will learn most about neotame (E 961).