Acesulfame Potassium

DescriptionAcesulfame potassium is approved for use in food as a sweetener. It is included in the ingredient list on the food label as acesulfame K, acesulfame potassium, or Ace-K. Acesulfame potassium (Ace-K) is regulates as a food additive. The FDA approved acesulfame potassium for use in specific food and beverage categories in 1988 and in 2003 approved it as a general-purpose sweetener and flavor enhancer in food, except in meat and poultry, under certain conditions of use. It is widely used in the food industry, such as mouthwash and soft drinks. However, some researches have found that it does harm to the liver and nervous system[1-2].

HistoryAcesulfame-K, the potassium salt of acesulfame, is a sweetener that resembles saccharin in structure and taste profile. 5,6-Dimethyl-1,2,3-oxathiazine-4(3H)-one 2,2-dioxide, the first of many sweet compounds belonging to the dihydrooxathiazinone dioxide class, was discovered accidentally in 1967. From these many sweet compounds, acesulfame was chosen for commercialization. To improve water solubility, the potassium salt was made. Acesulfame-K (Sunett) was approved for dry product use in the United States in 1988 and in Canada in October, 1994. In 2003, acesulfame-K was approved as a general purposes sweetener by the FDA.

Uses'New generation', heat-stable sweetener that has not been suspected to cause cancer nor be genotoxic. Allelic variation of the Tas1r3 gene affects behavioral taste responses to this molecule, suggesting that it is a T1R3 receptor ligand.

UsesAcesulfame-K is the potassium salt of 6-methyl-l,2,3-oxathiazin-4(3H)- one-2,2-dioxide. This sweetener was discovered in Germany and was first approved by the FDA in 1988 for use as a nonnutritive sweetener. The complex chemical name of this substance led to the creation of the trademark common name, acesulfame-K, which is based on its following relationships to acetocetic acid and sulfanic acid, and to its potassium salt nature. Acesulfame-K is 200 times as sweet as sugar and is not metabolized and is thus noncaloric. It is exceptionally stable at elevated temperatures encountered in baking, and it is also stable in acidic products, such as carbonated soft drinks. It has a synergistic effect when mixed with other low-calorie sweetners, such as aspartame. Common applications of acesulfame-K are table uses, chewing gums, beverages, foods, bakery products, confectionary, oral hygiene products, and pharmaceuticals.

UsesPotassium salt as sweetener for foods, cosmetics.