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Acesulfame K

What is Acesulfame K?

Acesulfame K also known as Acesulfame potassium is an artificial sweetener. It is also marketed under the trade names "Sunett" and "Sweet One". [1]

Health Concerns

"The safety tests of acesulfame-K were conducted in the 1970s and were of mediocre quality. Key rat tests were afflicted by disease in the animal colonies; a mouse study was several months too brief and did not expose animals during gestation. Two rat studies suggest that the additive might cause cancer. It was for those reasons that in 1996 the Center for Science in the Public Interest urged the FDA to require better testing before permitting acesulfame-K in soft drinks. In addition, large doses of acetoacetamide, a breakdown product, have been shown to affect the thyroid in rats, rabbits, and dogs. Hopefully, the small amounts in food are not harmful." [2]


History

Acesulfame K was discovered accidentally in 1967 by German chemist Karl Clauss at Hoechst AG (now Nutrinova). [1]

Other Ingredient Information

Products containing Acesulfame K


The percentage represents the approximate total number of food products from UPC Food Search's data that contain the ingredient, "Acesulfame K".
The data is calculated from UPC Food Search's product data only, and is not meant to reflect all food products regionally or globally.

Source(s) Derived From

 Chemical (Synthetic) Sources

Natural or Artificial?

 Artificial & Possibly Unsafe

References
  1. Acesulfame potassium - Wikipedia
  2. Food Additives - CSPI

Aliases (Also Known As)


 Acesulfame
Acesulfame Potassium

Color Key - (Click/Tap to View) Dash

  • Natural
  • Natural & Possibly Unsafe
  • Artificial
  • Artificial & Possibly Unsafe
  • Both (Can be derived from Natural & Artificial Sources)
  • Both (Can be derived from Natural & Artificial Sources) & Possibly Unsafe

Revision History

Action User Date/Time
Ingredient addedUPC Food SearchJanuary 1, 2009 @ 2:14 AM

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