Acesulfame potassium is a calorie free sweetener used in food and beverages to provide sweetness without adding the calories contained in sugar. Although some types of sweeteners are considered calorie free (for example, acesulfame potassium, Siraitia grosvenorii sweetener, Stevia rebaudiana sweetener and Sucralose), while other types of sweeteners are low calorie (for example, Aspartame), these ingredients are generally referred to as artificial sweeteners, high-intensity sweeteners, low calorie sweeteners, low calorie and calorie free sweeteners, non nutritional sweeteners or Sugar substitute.


Acesulfame potassium (what is acesulfame potassium) was initially developed by German researchers in 1967 and was first approved for use in Europe in 1983. Five years later, in 1988, it was approved in the United States. Today, it is often used with other low calorie and calorie free sweeteners (such as Aspartame and Sucralose) to provide a more sugar like taste than Acesulfame alone.


Like other low calorie and calorie free sweeteners, Acesulfame potassium has a strong sweetness. Its sweetness is about 200 times that of sucrose (sugar), so only a small amount of sugar is needed to achieve the sweetness of sugar. Ansemi potassium can maintain its sweetness over a wide temperature range and under many food processing conditions, making it suitable for use as an ingredient in various foods, including baked goods, beverages, candies, chocolate, dairy products, desserts, and more. When acesulfame potassium is used as an ingredient in packaged food or beverages, it appears in the form of Ace-K, acesulfame K, or acesulfame potassium on the ingredient list of the product.


Acesulfame potassium is also used as an ingredient in some tabletop sweeteners. In the United States, the most common sweetener brand containing acesulfame potassium is Equal ® Original.


What happens after consuming Acesulfame potassium?


Acesulfame potassium provides a sweet taste quickly after consumption. Ultimately, it is completely absorbed from the intestine into our blood, filtered by the kidneys, and rapidly excreted in a constant form within 24 hours. A small amount of potassium acetylsulfonamide can also be excreted from the breast milk of lactating women.


Is it safe to consume Acesulfame potassium?


Acesulfame potassium can be safely consumed. Since 1988, it has been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and is currently one of the eight low calorie and calorie free sweeteners allowed in the US food supply. Major health authorities around the world, such as the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA), the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare of Japan, the Food Standards Agency of Australia and New Zealand (FSANZ) and the Health Canada, have also found that Acesulfame potassium is safe to eat.