FDA: How Sweet It Is 　

Emergency Message System

November 12th, 2023

Some sweeteners are made to be many times sweeter than sugar, so you don’t need to use much. That means sweeteners, unlike sugar, honey, or molasses, add few or no calories to the foods and beverages they flavor. Also, sweeteners generally do not raise blood sugar levels.

How are Sweeteners Regulated?

Sweeteners, like other ingredients added to food in the U.S., must be safe for consumption under the federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act.

Companies that want to market a new food additive, or use an already approved one in a different way, must first seek approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The FDA determines if the ingredient is safe for its intended use based on the latest available science. The agency also establishes an acceptable daily intake (ADI) level. An ADI is the amount of a substance considered safe to consume each day over the course of a person’s lifetime.

Under the law, an ingredient does not have to go through the FDA’s food additive approval process before marketing if the use of the ingredient is “generally recognized as safe” (GRAS) by appropriate qualified experts.

Sweeteners Approved as Food Additives

Since the 1970s, the FDA has approved six sweeteners as food additives. These sweeteners are 200 to 20,000 times sweeter than sugar, depending on the product’s makeup.

Important Note About Aspartame

Scientific evidence has continued to support the FDA’s determination that aspartame is safe for the general population when used under the approved conditions of use.

Plant- and Fruit-based Sweeteners

In addition to the six sweeteners approved as food additives, uses of three sweeteners are generally recognized as safe. They are made from plants or fruits and, like the approved food additives, are many times sweeter than sugar.

Sugar Alcohols

Sugar alcohols are another type of sweetener. Sugar alcohols are as sweet, or less sweet, than sugar and are slightly lower in calories.

What Else Should I Know About Sweeteners?

While these sweeteners are considered safe for their intended uses, some people may have a particular sensitivity or adverse reaction to any food substance. Talk with your health care professional if you are concerned about a negative food reaction.