Acésulfame potassium

the acésulfame potassium is a sweetening not Calorigène, so known under the name of acésulfame K or Ace K . It has a capacity sweetening 100 to 200 times higher than the Sucre (Saccharose).

It is also known under the Numéro E (code of the additives) E 950.

Chemistry

The acésulfame K is the potassium salt of 6-methyl-1,2,3-oxathiazin-4-one-2,2-dioxide

History

Discovered

Acésulfame-K

" was discovered; accidentellement" in 1967 at Hoechst AG.

It is approximately 200 times more sweetened than sugar and does not contain any calorie.

It is especially combined with other sweetening substances low in calories that the acésulfame-K has good synergistic properties (these associations of sweetening substances are balanced better and tastier than each sweetening substance taken individually).

Marketing

Approval

The use of the acésulfame K in food was approved in Europe since 1983, with the USA since 1988, and with the Canada since 1994.

Presentation

Like the Saccharin, it has a light bitterness in after-taste, especially with high concentrations. Kraft Foods patented the use of the sodium ferulate to mask this after-taste.

The acésulfame K is often mixed with aspartame or other sweetening substances. These mixtures are considered to give a taste resembling more the taste of sugar where each sweetening substance masks the after-taste of the other, and, by effect of Synergie, the mixture is softer than the sum of its components.

Use

The acésulfame K is stable with heat, in acid medium or basic moderated and preserves itself well, allowing to use it in food products to be cooked with the furnace or which can be preserved a long time. It is used in the toothpastes and the medicinal products.

Harmlessness

In 1985, the Scientific committee of the European Union for the Food published a complete evaluation of the sweetening substances. This committee of experts in toxicology of the Member States of the EU accepted the use of the acésulfame K in food and drinks. The harmlessness of the acésulfame K was also examined by JECFA, with the conclusion which its use is without risk, all at least on a level lower than 15 mg/kg of body weight (Dose acceptable day laborer).

However, the studies which claim to show the harmlessness of the acésulfame K were called into question by a certain number of individuals and organizations, in particular by the Center for Science in the public interest in the USA. They claim that the existing studies are inadequate, that there are errors in the protocols of research, the proportioning and the duration of the studies; and that consequently the acésulfame K could be cancerogenic. In particular they note that there no were studies on the long-term man, thus they doubt that the studies which prove that the acésulfame K is quickly absorbed and excreted without modifications (C. - with-D. not metabolized by the human body) are representative of the long run. But consensus scientific current is that the acésulfame K is completely sure, which is the point of view proposed on the Web site of the public relations of the industry of the sweetening substances, IFIC.

External bond

Official site of Nutrinova Sunett
http://www.wholefoods.com/healthinfo/acesulfamek.html
http://www.elmhurst.edu/~chm/vchembook/549acesulfame.html
http://www.caloriecontrol.org/acesulf.html
FDA approval off Acesulfame potassium
http://www.ific.org/publications/brochures/acekbroch.cfm
http://www.cspinet.org/reports/asekquot.html
http://www.saccharin.org/

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