Acesulfame K
Acesulfame K (E950) is a synthetic sweetener roughly 200 times sweeter than sugar, used in soft drinks, chewing gum and desserts — usually blended with another sweetener to mask its aftertaste. It is not metabolised and contributes no calories.
Acesulfame K (acesulfame potassium) is an intense synthetic sweetener. It is absorbed but not broken down, and is excreted unchanged in urine, which is why it supplies no energy. It is heat-stable, so unlike aspartame it survives baking.
It is authorised in the EU under Regulation 1333/2008 with an EFSA acceptable daily intake of 9 mg/kg body weight. It carries no phenylketonuria warning because, unlike aspartame, it contains no phenylalanine.
On the label
- E-number
- E950
- INS number
- INS 950
- Functional class
- Sweetener
- Also known as
- Acesulfame potassium · Ace-K · Sweetener 950 · INS 950
Frequently asked questions
Yes — it contains no animal-derived material. It is a synthetic sweetener manufactured industrially. The same applies to a vegetarian diet.
Yes — the additive itself contains no gluten. A gluten-free claim belongs to the finished product, though — check the pack, not the additive.
It is a synthetic sweetener manufactured industrially and contains no animal-derived material, so the additive itself is not inherently non-halal. Certification applies to a finished product rather than to an additive, so a halal certification mark on the pack is the authoritative signal.
EFSA has set an acceptable daily intake of 9 mg per kg of body weight for acesulfame K. It is not metabolised — it passes through the body unchanged and contributes no calories — and unlike aspartame it carries no phenylketonuria warning. Some people find its aftertaste noticeable, which is why it is usually blended with another sweetener rather than used alone.