Background
Low-calorie sweeteners (sometimes referred to as non-nutritive sweeteners, artificial sweeteners or sugar substitutes) are ingredients added to food to provide sweetness without adding a significant amount of calories. In fact, they can also play an important role in a weight management program that includes both good nutrition choices and physical activity.
Low-calorie sweeteners have a long history of use in a variety of foods ranging from soft drinks, to puddings and candies as well as the table-top packet version. They also tend to be some of the most tested, studied, and reviewed food ingredients in the world today. In the U.S., the most common and popular low-calorie sweeteners approved for use today are:
- acesulfame potassium (Ace-K)
- aspartame
- neotame
- saccharin
- sucralose
When added to food, these low-calorie sweeteners provide a taste that is similar to that of table sugar (sucrose), and are generally several hundred to several thousand times sweeter than sugar. They are often referred to as intense sweeteners. Because of their intense sweetening power, these sweeteners are used in very small amounts and thus add only a negligible amount of calories to foods and beverages. As a result, they practically eliminate or substantially reduce the calories in products such as diet beverages, light yogurt and sugar-free pudding.
Learning the facts about low-calorie sweeteners, their safety and use in many of our favorite food and beverage products allows us to enjoy a much broader variety of palatable foods.
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Facts about Safety
Some individuals inaccurately categorize low-calorie sweeteners as unsafe, man-made, complex chemical compounds. However, low-calorie sweeteners are thoroughly tested and carefully regulated by federal authorities and various international organizations to ensure the safety of the food, beverages and other products that contain them. Also, food manufacturers are required to list low-calorie sweeteners on the product label.
The acceptable daily intake (ADI) must be considered prior to approval for any food ingredient including low-calorie sweeteners. The ADI is defined as the estimated amount (expressed in milligrams per kilogram of body weight per day) that a person can safely consume on average every day over a lifetime without risk. Worldwide evaluation concludes that (consumer) intake of low-calorie sweeteners is in fact, well below the ADIs set for these ingredients. Moreover, regulators around the world typically set ADIs at levels 100 times less than levels found to be safe in key animal model studies. These studies include daily exposure for up to a lifetime. In the United States, the ADI is set by the FDA. Internationally, ADIs are set by the Joint Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) of the United Nations’ World Health Organization and the Food and Agriculture Organization and the European Union’s Scientific Committee on Food (SCF).
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Real Facts About Low-Calorie Sweeteners
- FACT: Low-calorie sweeteners do not increase the risk of cancer. Studies indicate that low-calorie sweeteners do not initiate or promote cancers. A recent epidemiologic study by the National Cancer Institute showed that aspartame use is not associated with any increased risk of cancer, even among individuals who have high aspartame intakes.
- FACT: Food and beverages sweetened with low-calorie sweeteners do not increase the risk of other diseases. These ingredients are some of the most highly studied ingredients in the world today and a wealth of research confirms they are safe for human consumption. In contrast, low-calorie sweeteners can be a potentially useful tool in the management of both calorie and carbohydrate intake, for overall health management.
- FACT: All FDA-approved low-calorie sweeteners are safe for consumption by pregnant women and children. However, the advice of a physician or dietetic professional is recommended to ensure that dietary plans including low-calorie sweeteners meet the desired calorie and nutrient goals.
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More Facts about Low-Calorie Sweeteners Approved for Use in the U.S.
Acesulfame-K (Ace-K)—FDA concluded that the safety of Ace-K is consistent with research findings from other countries. The European SCF reexamination of the sweetener in 2000, reaffirmed its safety. No human health problems associated with the consumption of Ace-K have been reported in the literature, despite more than 15 years of extensive use in many countries.
Ace-K is not broken down by the body and is eliminated unchanged by the kidneys. It has no effect on serum glucose, cholesterol or triglycerides and people with diabetes may safely include products containing Ace-K in their diet.
Aspartame—Discovered in 1965, FDA approved its use in dry foods in 1981 and its use in beverages in 1983. In 1996, FDA approved aspartame as a general purpose sweetener concluding that it could be used in all categories of foods and beverages. Due to anecdotal reports and unscientific allegations, the safety of aspartame was reevaluated and confirmed again in 2002 by both the French Food Safety Agency and the European Food Safety Agency. The FDA has not received any evidence to date to reassess the safety of aspartame based on the widely available safety studies.
Additionally, in 2006, the AFC Panel of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) evaluated a long-term study on the carcinogenicity of aspartame and concluded that based on the current safety available, there is no reason to further review the safety of aspartame.
Aspartame is proven safe for the general population except for individuals with an extremely rare hereditary disease known as phenlyketonuria (PKU), who must restrict their intake of phenylalanine from all sources including aspartame. Foods containing aspartame as an ingredient must include a statement advising phenylketonurics that phenylalanine is present.
Neotame—The newest of the low-calorie sweeteners, neotame, was approved by FDA in July 2002 as a general purpose sweetener. This intense sweetener is approximately 7000 times sweeter than sugar. Neotame has also received favorable evaluation by JECFA and is approved for use in other countries including most parts of Eastern Europe, Australia, Russia, Mexico and several South American countries.
Prior to its approval for use as a general purpose sweetener, neotame was subjected to well over 100 extensive scientific studies. These studies included toxicity, developmental and reproductive and carcinogenicity research. Human studies were also conducted and “no significant effects of neotame were observed”.
Saccharin—Originally discovered in 1878, saccharin is perhaps the oldest of all low-calorie sweeteners approved for use in the marketplace today. The National Toxicology Program of the National Institutes of Health concluded in its “Report on Carcinogens, 9th Edition” that saccharin be removed from the list of potential carcinogens. The California Environmental Protection Agency also removed saccharin from its Proposition 65 list of carcinogens. Subsequently, based on federal legislation in 2001, saccharin no longer has to carry a warning label.
The caloric content of saccharin is zero and provides no food energy. It is extremely beneficial as a sugar substitute for people living with diabetes and enjoyed popularity as a sugar replacement during both World Wars. Today it is still safely and widely used, often in combination with other sweeteners.
Sucralose—In 1999, the FDA approved sucralose as a general purpose sweetener concluding that it could be used in all categories of foods and beverages. It has also been approved for use by JECFA and the European SCF approved its use in 2000. More than 100 scientific studies have been conducted on sucralose to determine its safety and use prior to government approval.
Additionally, sucralose has been proven to not promote dental caries and is safe for all segments of the population including people with diabetes. The FDA and the European SCF both reviewed studies conducted in people that have diabetes. These studies showed that sucralose has no adverse health effects on blood glucose control. Additionally, FDA and other experts have found no adverse health effects in regards to sucralose use.
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| Low-Calorie Sweeteners at a Glance |
| Sweetener | Caloric Value | Date Approved | Sweeter Than Sugar | Brand
Name(s)
|
| Acesulfame-K | 0 | 1988 | 200x | Sunett, Sweet One |
| Aspartame | 4 | 1981 | 180x | NutraSweet, Equal, others |
| Neotame | 0 | 2002 | 7,000x | n/a |
| Saccharin | 0 | Years prior to 1958 | 300x | Sweet and Low, Sweet Twin, Sugar Twin, others |
| Sucralose | 0 | 1998 | 600x | Splenda |
| Source: Comprehensive Reviews in Food Science and Food Safety, IFT, 2006 |
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Facts about Low-Calorie Sweeteners and Weight Management
As Americans face an increasing problem with obesity, foods sweetened with low-calorie sweeteners may help with weight management. Research indicates that people who incorporate foods sweetened with low-calorie sweeteners in their diet actually consume fewer calories than those who do not.
Low-calorie sweeteners do not increase appetite and cravings for sweet foods. Studies show that low-calorie sweeteners do not affect appetite and that they may even help individuals be more satisfied with eating plans that help them lose weight and keep it off. However, experts agree that successful weight management requires more than just calorie reduction—moderation in diet along with sensible eating habits and physical activity are integral in obtaining optimal weight control and management.
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Summary
Low-calorie sweeteners play a safe and important role in providing a broader variety of foods, beverages and other products to satisfy the palates of people across the world. They provide flexibility when making food choices for all people. The use of low-calorie sweeteners aids individuals concerned with caloric management, and carbohydrate intake and are deemed safe for the general public, people with diabetes, and even children and pregnant women. Based on the body of scientific studies and safety evaluations, both consumers and healthcare professionals can safely utilize the benefits of low-calorie sweeteners in calorie and/or carbohydrate management.
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References
European Commission, Health and Consumer Protection Directorate (2002). Opinion of the Scientific Committee on Food: Update on the Safety of Aspartame.
http://europe.eu.int/comm/food/fs/sc/scf/out155_en.pdf
European Food Safety Authority. Question number EFSA-Q-2005-122. The EFSA Journal, (2006), v 356, p 1-44
http://www.efsa.eu.int/science/afc/afc_opinions/1471_en.html
French Food Safety Agency (2002). Assessment Report.
http://www.aspartame.org/pdf/AFSSA-Eng.pdf
Henkel., J. (2006). Sugar Substitutes: Americans Opt for Sweetness and Lite. FDA Consumer.
http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/fdsugar.html
International Food Information Council Foundation. A Look at Low Calorie Sweeteners. Food Insight. (September/October 2005).
http://www.ific.org/foodinsight/2005/so/lcsfi505.cfm
International Food Information Council Foundation. Gestational Diabetes and Low-Calorie Sweeteners: Answers to Common Questions (November 2004). http://www.ific.org/publications/brochures/gestdiabetes.cfm
International Food Information Council Foundation. IFIC Review, Low-Calorie Sweeteners and Health (October 2000).
http://www.ific.org/publications/reviews/sweetenerir.cfm
International Food Information Council Foundation. Sugar Alcohols Fact Sheet (September 2004). http://www.ific.org/publications/factsheets/sugaralcoholfs.cfm
International Food Information Council Foundation. US Food and Drug Administration. Food Ingredients and Colors. (November 2004).
http://www.ific.org/publications/brochures/foodingredandcolorsbroch.cfm
Journal of the American Dietetic Association (2004). Position of the American Dietetic Association: Use of Nutritive and Nonnutritive Sweeteners. p 255-275.
http://www.eatright.org/cps/rde/xchg/ada/hs.xsl/
advocacy_adap0598_ENU_HTML.htm
Kroger, M., Meister, K., Kava. (2006). Low calorie sweeteners and other sugar substitutes: A review of the safety issues. Comprehensive Reviews in Food Science and Food Safety. Vol. 5, p 35-47.
http://members.ift.org/NR/rdonlyres/DA941122-00F5-49AA-8BC3-27E32F80B746/0/crfsfsv5n2p3547.pdf
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