Acesulfame-K: Bad Sweetener #1

Acesulfame Potassium or Acesulfame-K was discovered in 1967.It was approved by the FDA in 1997 for use in soft drinks, the number one product that includes sweeteners. Its use in our food supply is widespread. It has 150 times the sweetness of sugar on a per weight basis. Our bodies do not metabolize it and it is excreted in our urine. It is found as a sweetener in many processed foods, including dessert, chewing gum, , alcohol containing beverages, syrup, candies, sauces, and yogurt. As well as soft drinks. Some common manufactured goods include Hershey’s Lite Syrup, Trident gum and sugar free Jell-O.

The FDA has examined it for safety multiple times and passed it and products carrying it do not have to have a warning label.

Let’s look at the facts and see why it is not an acceptable additive.

Reasons not to use products with Acesulfame:

1. Testing of Acesulfame has been inadequate. The proof of safety is missing.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1570055/
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20166324

2. Damage to genes in mice.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9449223

3. Causes an increase in insulin secretion.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2887500

4. Memory Loss. The long term use of Acesulfame in laboratory rats showed rats had impaired memories.
http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0070257

Conclusion: There is enough evidence of damage to a closely related mammals, rats and mice that we should avoid products that contain Acesulfame.

Action Item: Teas and coffee are healthy alternatives to soft drinks as both contain anti-oxidants that help to promote health. Avoid all soft drinks, especially those with Acesulfame as an additive. Please see “The Nasty List” for other additives to avoid.