InfoCons Consumer Protection : Understanding E950 – Acesulfame K – Food Additives and Prevention

InfoCons Consumer Protection : Understanding E950 – Acesulfame K  – Food Additives and Prevention

The food additive E950, acesulfame K, is a synthetic sweetener with a very high sweetening power.

Sweeteners have been used since ancient times to satisfy people’s natural preference for a sweet taste.

Depending on their caloric contribution to foods, sweeteners can be classified into three categories:

– Nutritive sweeteners, which are generally natural sugars or their derivatives;

– Macronutrient sugar substitutes, a category of sweeteners with reduced caloric content but with functional properties similar to sugar. This category includes polyols obtained by reducing mono- and oligosaccharides, such as sorbitol, mannitol, xylitol, etc.;

– Non-nutritive high-intensity sweeteners, compounds that provide a sweet taste at much lower concentrations than those required for sucrose and which are either not metabolized by the body or do not contribute to the caloric intake of foods and beverages.

InfoCons Consumers Protection Informs You – Artificial Intelligence & the Manipulation of Human Perception – InfoCons Consumer Protection in Cybersecurity

Non-nutritive sweeteners can further be classified into two categories:

• Natural products: thaumatin, glycyrrhizin, stevioside, miraculin, phyllodulcin, etc.;
• Synthetic or semi-synthetic products: saccharin, cyclamates, aspartame, acesulfame, sucralose, etc.

The chemical formula of acesulfame K is C₄H₄NO₄KS, and its molecular weight (M) is 201.24.

Acesulfame K may also be found under the following names: potassium acesulfame, acesulfame, potassium salt of 3,4-dihydro-6-methyl-1,2,3-oxathiazin-4-one 2,2-dioxide.

Its chemical name is potassium salt of 6-methyl-1,2,3-oxathiazin-4(3H)-one 2,2-dioxide.

Where Can Acesulfame K (E950) Be Found?

Acesulfame K or E950 can be found in the following products and foods:

• desserts and similar products, such as flavored water-based desserts, milk-based preparations, and derived products;
• fruit- and vegetable-based desserts, with or without added sugar;
• egg-based desserts, with or without added sugar;
• cereal-based desserts;
• fat-based desserts, with or without added sugar;
• milk-based beverages and derived products or fruit juice-based beverages with reduced energy value or without added sugar;
• breakfast cereals;
• ready-to-eat snacks based on starch or glazed dried nuts and peanuts containing certain flavorings;
• confectionery products without added sugar;
• confectionery products based on cocoa or dried fruits, with reduced energy value or without added sugar;
• starch-based confectionery products or spreadable pastes based on cocoa, milk, dried fruits, or fats;
• sugar-free chewing gum, breath-freshening lozenges;
• cider, pear brandy, beer, spirits;
• non-alcoholic beverages, for example flavored water-based drinks with reduced energy value or without added sugar;
• preserved fruits with reduced energy value or without added sugar;
• jams, jellies, and marmalades with reduced energy value, sweet-and-sour fruit and vegetable preserves;
• soft and hard candies;
• canned and semi-canned fish, fish marinades, crustaceans and mollusks, sauces, mustard, vinegar;
• soups and broths;
• coffee, coffee substitutes, tea, herbal infusions.

InfoCons Consumers Protection Informs You –  Shopping Addiction ? Alerts Concerning Hyundai Vehicles ! Choose Safely with the InfoCons Consumer Protection App !

Characteristics and Uses

• Function: Sweetener
• Properties: Synthetic, stable at high temperatures, calorie-free, but may stimulate pancreatic activity
• Products: Non-alcoholic beer, desserts, sauces, canned foods, chewing gum
• Dosage: The maximum acceptable daily intake is 15 mg/kg body weight, while incorporation levels in foods vary depending on the product category