Why aspartame cannot be used in baked foods

Acesulfame K, marketed under trade names Sunett and Sweet One, is most commonly used in combination with other artificial sweeteners due to a bitter aftertaste. Saccharin, one of the most well-recognized and widely used artificial sweeteners, is available under a variety of trade names, with Sweet'N Low and Sugar Twin being the most common. Saccharin is used in sugar-free and low-calorie foods ranging from beverages and cookies to dairy products. Aspartame is unsuitable for cooking or baked goods because its structure degrades at high temperatures.

Although aspartame is safe for the general population, in people with a rare genetic condition called phenylketonuria, aspartame cannot be properly processed by the body. Neotame is a relative newcomer to the artificial sweetener market.

Produced by the makers of NutraSweet, neotame is derived from aspartame and has a similar taste but is metabolized slightly differently in the body. As a result, neotame-containing products do not need to carry the same FDA warning as those with aspartame.

Sucralose, widely marketed under the name Splenda, has been touted as having the most natural flavor profile of any artificial sweetener and is currently the most popular option.

Lawsuits eventually forced the company to repeal the message, though. The presence or absence of other ingredients can magnify or mute sweetener tendencies, according to Mr. Currently in the US, there are eight high-intensity sweeteners. Six of them — acesulfame potassium ace-k , advantame, aspartame, neotame, saccharin and sucralose — are regulated by the Food and Drug Administration FDA as food additives and are considered to be artificial sweeteners. The others — monk fruit and stevia — are regulated as Generally Recognized as Safe GRAS ingredients and considered to be natural sweeteners.

All but one of these high-intensity sweeteners are further classified as non-nutritive, meaning they are very low in calories or contain none at all. The exception is aspartame, which does contain calories. Because aspartame is about times sweeter than sucrose, not much is needed to achieve desired sweetness, and therefore, it typically contributes negligible calories to a formulation. We use cookies to provide you with a better experience. By continuing to browse the site you are agreeing to our use of cookies in accordance with our Cookie Policy.

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