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Acesulfame Potassium Ends on a “Sweet Note” in 2003

ATLANTA (January 5, 2004) – The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently announced that Acesulfame Potassium received a general use approval. Acesulfame K, which has been used for many years in thousands of foods and beverages in approximately 90 countries, can now be used as a general purpose sweetener and flavor enhancer in food, not including meat and poultry, according to the FDA. “With the current obesity crisis, the use of low-calorie sweeteners, such as Acesulfame K has never been more important. With this broader approval, Acesulfame K can now be used in even more foods and beverages. Such products will allow consumers to enjoy their favorite products with fewer calories,” notes Lyn Nabors, Executive Vice President of the Calorie Control Council.

Acesulfame K is approximately 200 times sweeter than sucrose. It has a clean, quickly perceptible, sweet taste that does not linger or leave an aftertaste. Acesulfame K is not metabolized by the body and is excreted unchanged. When Acesulfame K is combined with other low-calorie sweeteners, they enhance each other so that the combinations are sweeter than the sum of the individual sweeteners with significantly improved taste profiles. It is an excellent sweetener for use in baked goods, a market which has great potential for low-calorie sweeteners, and is well suited for use in toothpaste, mouthwashes and pharmaceuticals.

“We look forward to the new products that will use Acesulfame K either alone or in combination with other low and reduced calorie sweeteners. This is great news for consumers, especially as many make their resolution to eat a healthier diet. Acesulfame K and the other currently available low-calorie sweeteners fit well with this resolution as light products can help reduce calories,” noted Ms. Nabors.

Acesulfame K is sold under the brand name SunettTM by Nutrinova, Inc.

faq2Do you have questions about low-calorie sweeteners? Want to learn more about maintaining a healthy lifestyle? You asked and we listened. Our resident Registered Dietitians answered the most popular questions about low-calorie sweeteners.

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