Aspartameis a dipeptide, composed of 2 amino acids (phenylalanine and aspartic acid), with a methyl group added. It is said to be 180 times as sweet as sugar (sucrose), and it contains only about 4% of the calories of the equivalent amount of sugar.It is damaged by heating, so its main use is in fizzy drinks. Nutra-sweet is a common brand. On digestion it is converted into phenylalanine and aspartic acid and methanol. These must carry a warning "contains a source of phenylalanine" so that sufferers from phenylketonuria can avoid them. |
Acesulfame Kis the potassium salt of 6-methyl-1,2,3- oxathiazine-4(3H)-one 2,2-dioxide.It is about as sweet as aspartame. It may have a slight aftertaste, so it is often mixed with it or other sweeteners, for example in Canderel products. As it is unaffected by high temperature, it can be used in foods to be cooked. |
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Sucraloseis sucrose which has been modified by the substitution of 3 chlorine atoms for -OH groups.It is 600 times sweeter than sucrose, so it is often mixed with other substances to bulk it out. It is marketed under the brand name Splenda. It is apparently not metabolised or stored in the body like other chlorinated compounds. |
Saccharin(benzoic sulfinide) has been available since the 1880s, although it only became more widely used during wartime sugar shortages.It is said to be about 300 times as sweet as sucrose, but may display an unpleasant bitter/metallic aftertaste, especially at high concentrations. It is used to sweeten products such as drinks, sweets, medicines, and toothpaste. For many years fears were expressed about the possibility that it may cause bladder cancer |