Acesulfame

Antibiotic, Antibacterial, Antiinfective, Antimalarial, CNS Stimulant NSAID, Antipyretic, Analgesic, and Anti inflammatory Acesulfame potassium (ace-SUHL-faym), also known as acesulfame K (K is the symbol for potassium) or Ace K, is a calorie-free sugar substitute (artificial sweetener), and marketed under the trade names Sunett and Sweet One. In the European Union, it is known under the E number (additive code) E950It was discovered accidentally in 1967 by German chemist Karl Clauss at Hoechst AG (now Nutrinova). Acesulfame K is 200 times sweeter than sucrose (common sugar), as sweet as aspartame, about 2/3 as sweet as saccharin, and 1/3 as sweet as sucralose. Like saccharin, it has a slightly bitter aftertaste, especially at high concentrations. Kraft Foods patented the use of sodium ferulate to mask acesulfame’s aftertaste.

Acesulfame K is often blended with other sweeteners (usually sucralose or aspartame). Acesulfame potassium is one of the non-nutritive sweeteners that aids patients with type 1 diabetes. It provides a super sweet taste without affecting glycaemic responses and without the high content of caloric sugars. Some studies, however, discovered that the consumption of non-nutritive sweeteners has led to weight gain thus increasing the risk of type 2 diabetes.