5 of the Most Commonly Used Types of Artificial Sweeteners

What are the commonly used types of artificial sweeteners? Artificial sweeteners are widely used as an alternative to sugar, especially for diabetics, because of their ability to give sweetness without raising blood sugar levels. 

Artificial sweeteners such as aspartame, saccharine, and sucralose are often referred to as zero-calorie sweeteners, because they contain no calories or are very low in calories. 

This makes them a popular choice for those who want to reduce their calorie intake while still enjoying the sweetness of food and beverages.

On top of that, several studies show that artificial sweeteners can help in weight management and blood glucose control. 

However, there are also concerns about the potential side effects and long-run health impacts of artificial sugar consumption, including possible effects on our body’s metabolism, and increased tendencies to eat sweetened foods.

That’s why further research is expected to provide clearer information on the long-term health impacts of the use of artificial sweeteners as well as determine whether they are indeed a healthier alternative to regular sugar. 

So, enough with the chit-chat, let’s get into the most commonly used types of artificial sweeteners that dimulti has prepared just for you!

Types of Artificial Sweeteners

1. Saccharin

saccharin is an artificial sweetener that was first discovered more than 100 years ago by Constantin Fahlber, making it one of the oldest known synthetic sweeteners. 

Saccharin is known for its very sweet flavor, which can be up to 300 to 400 times sweeter than regular sugar.

Over time, saccharin has become an intensive research material related to its health effects on our bodies. 

Some recent studies have revealed that one of the main concerns is that it contains a compound that is considered to be carcinogenic, a substance that can increase the risk of cancer. 

Despite concerns about the safety of saccharin, health authorities in various countries, including the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), still allow its use with certain restrictions. 

For example, in beverages, saccharine is allowed with a maximum limit of 12 mg per 29 ml, and for food, the maximum limit is 30 mg per pack. 

This regulation is designed to ensure that sugar consumption remains within levels considered safe based on existing research.

2. Aspartame

The next one is aspartame, an artificial sweetener that was invented back in 1965 by James M. Schlatter.

Although being invented in 1965, the uses of aspartame was not approved until 15 years later by the FDA in around 1983.

More than 200 studies have proven that aspartame has no adverse effects on health.

However, aspartame has a disadvantage that its sweetness will disappear if exposed to high temperatures for a long time.

Therefore, aspartame is more widely used for cold foods and beverages, such as ice cream, cold drinks, yogurt, and so on.

Also Read: “6 Types of Natural Sugar“

3. Acesulfame K

Just like aspartame, this artificial sweetener can be 200 times sweeter than sugar, but without a bitter after taste when consumed.

Acesulfame K cannot be digested by the body because it has no calories at all. 

In addition, these artificial sweeteners are resistant to high temperatures so their uses are more diverse than aspartame.

This type of sugar is also good for diabetics because it has been shown not to affect blood sugar levels. There are at least 1,000 more products that use acesulfame K.

4. Sucralose

Sucralose was discovered by Tate & Lyle and researchers at Queen Elizabeth College, University of London, in 1976. 

Sucralose is an artificial sweetener that is about 600 times sweeter than regular sugar and  also cannot be digested by the body, so it does not add calories. 

Due to its ability to maintain its sweetness at high temperatures, sucralose is ideal for use in syrups, desserts, beverages, and cake products. 

Although generally considered safe by global health agencies such as the FDA and EFSA, research into the long-term effects of these sweeteners are still needs to be done.

5. Neotame

Last one on our list of the most commonly used types of artificial sweeteners is the neotame, which was invented back in 1992 by French scientists: Claude Nofre and Jean-Marie Tinti.

This type of sugar is a newly discovered artificial sweetener and has been approved for consumption by the FDA since 2002.

The level of sweetness of neotame is 8000 times sweeter than regular sugar and 40 times sweeter than aspartame.

Neotame is allowed to be consumed as much as 2 mg per kg of body weight. This lubricant also does not cause an increase in blood sugar levels.

So there you have it! The 5 most commonly used types of artificial sweeteners!

Although an artificial sweetener is widely used as the more “healthy” substitute of sugar, further research still needs to be done to prove this point. 

That’s why the uses of artificial sweetener in many products are strictly regulated in many countries, including in Indonesia.

The use of artificial sweetener is clearly stated and regulated in SNI 01-6993-2004.