Food Additives: Ace K

What it is:

Artificial sweetener: Used in baked goods, chewing gum, gelatin desserts, soft drinks.

What we know:

Acesulfame potassium is a calorie-free artificial sweetener, also known as Acesulfame K or Ace K (K being the symbol for potassium), marketed under the brand names Sunett and Sweet One. Acesulfame K is 200 times sweeter than sucrose (table sugar), as sweet as aspartame, about half as sweet as saccharin, and one-quarter as sweet as sucralose. As with other artificial sweeteners, there is concern over the safety of acesulfame potassium. According to The Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI), a nonprofit health advocacy organization, as indicated on their website the safety tests of acesulfame-K were conducted in the 1970s and were of mediocre quality. They go on to say key rat tests were afflicted by disease in the animal colonies; a mouse study was several months too brief and did not expose animals during gestation. Two rat studies suggest that the additive might cause cancer. In addition it is mentioned that large doses of acetoacetamide (a breakdown product) have been shown to affect the thyroid in rats, rabbits, and dogs. Because of this, in 1996 CSPI urged the FDA to obtain more research before allowing acesulfame-K to be approved for use in broadly consumed products such as soft drinks. In July 1998, the FDA allowed this artificial sweetener to be used in soft drinks, which increased the consumption and exposure of this questionable chemical greatly. Acesulfame is currently permitted by the FDA for direct addition to food intended for human consumption (FDA regulation 172.800).

Other Names:

Acesulfame K; Ace K; Acesulfame Potassium Source: United States National Library of Medicine For more information on food additives visit the LABELWATCH ingredient glossary at www.labelwatch.com. Here's to your health!