Neotame is one of five artificial sweeteners approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration as a food additive. Neotame is the most potent artificial sweetener of all, so it's added to consumable products very sparingly. The effects of neotame sweetener on your weight can be beneficial, if you consume artificially-sweetened foods and beverages in moderation and use them in place of higher-calorie options.
History
Neotame was approved by the FDA in 2002 as a general purpose sweetener, except that it cannot be used in meat and poultry. Neotame is made by NutraSweet, the same company that developed aspartame, another artificial sweeter, and in fact, it contains two key amino acids also used in aspartame. Neotame is heat stable and can be used in baked and cooked goods, such as jams and jellies. Because Neotame is around 8,000 times sweeter than sucrose, or table sugar, and about 40 times as sweet as aspartame, only minute portions are used to add flavor to foods and beverages. The Center for Science in the Public Interest, or CSPI, indicates that neotame is still not widely used; it's often blended with sugar and other artificial sweeteners.
Effects on Food
The International Sweeteners Association says the effects of neotame on certain foods -- such as citrus, chocolate, vanilla and mint -- bring out the foods' natural flavor. Neotame is used to sweeten numerous consumer products, including soft drinks, juices, puddings, chewing gum, breath mints, fruit preserves, frozen dairy desserts and dessert toppings, among many others. Neotame adds sweetness without adding carbohydrates normally imparted by sugar, reducing the calories in foods and drinks.
Effects on Health
The CSPI rates neotame as a safe food additive. Some concerns have been raised about artificial sweeteners as potential carcinogens, but the National Cancer Institute says more than 100 safety studies on neotame show no link between this sweetener and cancer, nor are any other health concerns associated with neotame. Choosing foods and drinks with neotame sweetener can help you lose weight or manage your current weight. Also, artificial sweeteners do not contribute to tooth decay like other natural and added sugars. Neotame and other artificial sweeteners don't affect your insulin levels either, making them safe for diabetics, who must watch how many carbs they consume.
Considerations
MayoClinic.com says neotame and other artificial sweeteners -- acesulfame potassium, aspartame, saccharin and sucralose -- are generally safe for consumption, even by pregnant women. The FDA establishes an acceptable recommended intake, or ADI, for each artificial sweetener approved. The daily ADI for neotame is 0 to 1 milligram per pound of body weight. MayoClinic.com goes on to say that artificially-sweetened foods can still have a lot of calories. If you're watching your weight, keep track of your total calorie intake and consume artificially-sweetened foods and beverages in moderation.
References
- Center for Science in the Public Interest: Food Additives
- National Cancer Institute: Artificial Sweeteners and Cancer
- MayoClinic.com: Artificial Sweeteners--Understanding These and Other Sugar Substitutes
- International Food Safety Network: What is Neotame?
- International Food Information Foundation Council: IFIC Review -- Low-Calorie Sweeteners and Health
- Vlex.com: Neotame
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