Artificial sweeteners

Artificial sweeteners are sugar substitutes that provide a sweet taste like that of sugar while containing significantly less food energy. Some sugar substitutes are produced by nature, and others produced synthetically. Those that are not produced by nature are, in general, called artificial sweeteners.

History

The discovery of artificial sweeteners often involved a chemist accidentally tasting their chemical compounds. For example, saccharin, the first artificial sweetener, was discovered by Constantin Fahlberg in 1879 while working on coal tar derivatives in Ira Remsen's laboratory at the Johns Hopkins University.

Types of Artificial Sweeteners

There are several types of artificial sweeteners available in the market. Some of the most common ones include:

• Saccharin: Discovered in 1879, saccharin is 300-400 times sweeter than sugar. It is often used in diet drinks and candies, as well as for baking.

• Aspartame: Introduced in the 1960s, aspartame is around 200 times sweeter than sugar. It is commonly used in diet sodas and sugar-free gums.

• Sucralose: Sucralose, marketed under the brand name Splenda, is 600 times sweeter than sugar. It is used in a wide range of low-calorie and sugar-free foods and drinks.

• Acesulfame potassium: Also known as acesulfame K or Ace-K, this sweetener is 200 times sweeter than sugar and is often used in combination with other sweeteners.

Health Effects

The health effects of artificial sweeteners are a topic of ongoing debate. Some studies suggest that they can lead to health problems such as cancer, while others have found no link. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the use of all the above-mentioned artificial sweeteners.

See Also

• Sugar substitute
• Food and Drug Administration
• Diet drink