Sugar Substitutes

Artificial sweeteners can help consumers cut down on calories and control weight, help to manage chronic conditions such as diabetes, and potentially prevent cavities. The most commonly used sweeteners approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use in foods and beverages in the United States include: aspartame, saccharin, advantame, acesulfame-K, neotame, luo han guo fruit extracts, stevia, and sucralose. The agency regulates artificial sweeteners, which must be approved as safe before they can be marketed. The FDA evaluates a sweetener’s composition and properties, how much is likely to be consumed, and various types of safety studies. For each of the sweeteners, the typical amount used by an individual is well within levels that can be consumed safely. The following are key facts about the safety of sugar substitutes, as well as an individual look at each one.