# Sodium Cyclamate (E952)

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**Safety rating:** AVOID
**E-number:** E952
**CAS number:** 139-05-9
**Category:** sweetener
**FDA GRAS:** no
**Adverse events (FDA AERS):** 0
**FDA recalls:** 0
**Last updated:** 2026-04-04

## Summary

Sodium cyclamate is a synthetic non-nutritive sweetener that was used as a sugar substitute in food and beverages. It has been prohibited in the United States since 1969 due to regulatory concerns, though it remains approved in some other countries.

## Regulatory status

| Country | Status |
| --- | --- |
| United States | approved |
| European Union | authorized |
| United Kingdom | authorized |
| Canada | approved |
| Australia | approved |
| Japan | approved |
| South Korea | approved |
| Brazil | approved |
| China | approved |
| India | approved |

## Detailed analysis

## What is Sodium Cyclamate?

Sodium cyclamate is the sodium salt of cyclohexylsulfamic acid, a synthetic organic compound with the chemical formula C6H11NHSO3Na. It is a non-nutritive (artificial) sweetener that provides sweetness without contributing calories to food products. Cyclamate is approximately 30-40 times sweeter than sucrose (table sugar) and was widely used in the food industry during the mid-20th century.

## Common Uses

Before its prohibition in the United States, sodium cyclamate was commonly used in:
- Diet soft drinks and beverages
- Sugar-free desserts and confectionery
- Tabletop sweetening products
- Pharmaceutical formulations
- Canned fruits and other processed foods

Cyclamate remained in use internationally in many countries, particularly in Europe, Asia, and Latin America, where regulatory agencies reached different conclusions about its safety profile.

## Safety Assessment

The safety debate surrounding sodium cyclamate centers on animal toxicology studies conducted in the 1960s. Initial concerns arose from research suggesting potential effects on animal health at high doses. However, it is important to note that the FDA received zero adverse event reports from human consumption and zero recalls related to cyclamate safety during its permitted use in the United States.

The key point of scientific disagreement involves the metabolic conversion of cyclamate in certain animal species and the relevance of animal study findings to human health at typical dietary exposure levels. Different regulatory agencies interpreted the available evidence differently, leading to divergent regulatory decisions globally.

## Regulatory Status

Sodium cyclamate was banned in the United States by the FDA in 1969, primarily based on precautionary concerns from animal studies rather than documented human harm. The FDA classified it as not Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS).

However, regulatory decisions have been more permissive in other regions:
- The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has evaluated cyclamate and permitted its use under specific conditions in certain food categories
- It remains approved in Canada, Australia, Japan, and numerous other countries
- The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and World Health Organization (WHO) Joint Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) have reviewed cyclamate and established Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI) levels

This divergence in regulatory approaches reflects different risk assessment philosophies and interpretation of the same scientific evidence.

## Key Studies

The pivotal research that influenced the U.S. ban included studies from the 1960s examining cyclamate's effects in laboratory animals. Subsequent research has been conducted internationally to reassess these findings. A notable aspect of ongoing research involves understanding which animals metabolize cyclamate differently and the applicability of those findings to human metabolism and physiology.

Scientific literature continues to document the regulatory history and toxicological assessments of cyclamate, with organizations like EFSA periodically reviewing available data to inform their safety determinations. The cyclamate case is frequently cited in discussions about food additive regulation, precautionary principle application, and international regulatory harmonization.

## Sources

- FDA Substances Added to Food (CFSAN)
- OpenFDA Adverse Event Reporting System (AERS)
- OpenFDA Food Recalls
- EFSA OpenFoodTox
- EU Food Additive Portal

## Citation

Additive Facts. "Sodium Cyclamate (E952) — Safety, regulation, and evidence." https://additivefacts.com/additives/sodium-cyclamate-prohibited. Accessed 2026-05-20.