Acesulfame potassium is an artificial sweetener that also goes by the names Acesulfame-K and ACE. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration first approved acesulfame potassium as a multipurpose food additive in 1988 for specific foods and beverages. FDA approval suggests that acesulfame potassium is safe; however, the Center for Science in the Public Interest, or CSPI, and some researchers believe the additive needs to be investigated more thoroughly to make sure it's not a harmful sweetener. Consult your doctor about its use.
History
Acesulfame potassium was first developed in the mid-1960s by a German company called Hoechst. According to the CSPI, this artificial sweetener is around 200 times as sweet as regular sucrose, or sugar. The FDA first approved it for use in specific foods and drinks in the late 1980s; in 2002, it was approved for use as an all-purpose sweetener. It cannot, however, be used in meat and poultry. Acesulfame potassium is used as a no-calorie sweetener for baked goods, gelatin, chewing gum, soft drinks, syrups, candy and yogurt. The International Food Information Foundation Council, or IFIFC, states that this artificial sweetener is used in some 4,000 foods and drinks worldwide.
Special Properties
Like other artificial sweeteners, acesulfame potassium adds flavor to food without any calories. It's often used along with sucralose, another artificial sweetener. Structurally, acesulfame potassium is markedly similar to saccharin, another FDA-approved artificial sweetener. However, acesulfame potassium remains stable when exposed to heat, which makes it ideal for use in baked goods.
Concerns
The CSPI rates acesulfame potassium as one food additive you should avoid, raising concerns about safety tests on the sweetener prior to FDA approval that were of "mediocre quality." The CSPI notes that tests conducted on rats and mice were very short; two suggested that acesulfame potassium could potentially be carcinogenic. An article published in the "International Journal of Occupational and Environmental Health" in 2010 by a Drexel University researcher echoed the CSPI's concerns and recommended that the sweetener undergo more rigorous and lengthy testing in the National Toxicology Program's bioassay program.
Other Insight
Other medical experts indicate that acesulfame potassium isn't harmful. The National Cancer Institute notes that numerous studies haven't linked the sweetener to cancer or any other disease. MayoClinic.com points to the benefits of artificial sweeteners for people with diabetes or those who want to reduce risk of weight gain and tooth decay, noting that acesulfame potassium and other artificial sweeteners approved by the FDA are "generally safe," as long as you consume them in moderation. The FDA has set the acceptable daily intake, or ADI, for acesulfame potassium at 15 mg per pound of body weight. Acesulfame potassium goes by the trade names Sunette, Sweet One and Sweet 'n Safe.
References
- Elmhurst College: Acesulfame-K
- FDA; Code of Federal Regulations Title 21
- Center for Science in the Public Interest: Food Additives
- Harvard School of Public Health: Sugary Drinks or Diet Drinks: What's the Best Choice?
- MayoClinic.com: Artificial Sweeteners -- Understanding These and Other Sugar Substitutes
- National Cancer Institute: Artificial Sweeteners and Cancer
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