Sweeteners Ranked: Which Are Actually Safe?

Advantame is a non-nutritive sweetener derived from aspartame that provides sweetness without calories. It is approximately 20,000 times sweeter than sucrose and is used in various food and beverage products as a sugar substitute.

High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS) is a sweetener derived from corn starch through enzymatic processing, containing approximately 55% fructose and 42% glucose. It is widely used in beverages, baked goods, and processed foods as a cost-effective alternative to sucrose.

Hydrolyzed lactose is a nutritive sweetener created by breaking down lactose (milk sugar) into its simpler components, glucose and galactose. It is used in food products as a sweetening agent and is recognized as safe by the FDA.

Maltose is a naturally occurring disaccharide sugar composed of two glucose units, commonly used as a nutritive sweetener in food and beverage products. It provides sweetness and texture benefits while delivering approximately 4 calories per gram, similar to other sugars.

Molasses is a thick, dark byproduct of sugar refining derived from sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.). It functions as a nutritive sweetener in foods and beverages, providing sweetness along with minor amounts of minerals and compounds naturally present in sugar cane.

Sucrose is a naturally occurring disaccharide sugar composed of glucose and fructose, commonly known as table sugar. It is widely used as a nutritive sweetener in beverages, baked goods, confections, and numerous processed foods to provide sweetness and functional properties like texture and preservation.

Tapioca starch is a carbohydrate extracted from cassava root that functions as both a nutritive sweetener and thickening agent in food products. It is commonly used to improve texture, consistency, and mouthfeel in processed foods while providing calories and carbohydrates.

Xylitol is a naturally occurring sugar alcohol derived from plant materials like birch wood and corn cobs. It functions as a nutritive sweetener and humectant in food products, providing sweetness comparable to sugar while containing fewer calories and having a lower glycemic impact.

Acesulfame potassium (acesulfame K) is a synthetic non-nutritive sweetener approximately 200 times sweeter than sugar. It is widely used in beverages, baked goods, and other food products to provide sweetness without calories.

Saccharin is a synthetic non-nutritive sweetener approximately 300-400 times sweeter than sucrose. It has been used in food and beverages since the early 1900s to provide sweetness without calories and is approved for use by the FDA and regulatory agencies worldwide.

Saccharin, ammonium salt (CAS 6381-61-9) is a non-nutritive synthetic sweetener approximately 300-400 times sweeter than sucrose. It is used in food and beverage products as a sugar substitute to provide sweetness without calories.

Calcium saccharin is the calcium salt form of saccharin, a synthetic non-nutritive sweetener that provides sweetness without calories. It is used in beverages, food products, and tabletop sweeteners to reduce sugar content while maintaining sweet taste.

Sucralose is a non-nutritive artificial sweetener approximately 600 times sweeter than sugar. It is widely used in beverages, baked goods, and other food products as a sugar substitute to reduce caloric content.

Talc (CAS 14807-96-6) is a naturally occurring mineral silicate used in food manufacturing as a formulation aid, processing aid, and anti-caking agent. While not FDA GRAS-approved, it has been used historically in food applications and serves functions related to texture and surface treatment in various food products.

Calcium cyclamate is a synthetic non-nutritive sweetener approximately 30-40 times sweeter than sucrose. It was widely used in beverages and processed foods but has been prohibited in many countries, including the United States, due to regulatory decisions based on animal study findings.

Cyclamate is a synthetic non-nutritive sweetener approximately 30-40 times sweeter than sucrose. It was widely used in foods and beverages but has been prohibited in many countries due to regulatory concerns, despite limited evidence of direct human toxicity.

Dulcin is a synthetic non-nutritive sweetener that was used in food products during the early-to-mid 20th century. It has been prohibited in most countries, including the United States, due to safety concerns identified in animal studies.

Magnesium cyclamate is a non-nutritive artificial sweetener derived from cyclamic acid. It was used as a sugar substitute in food and beverages but has been prohibited in many countries due to regulatory decisions, despite limited evidence of direct harm in humans.

P-4000 is a non-nutritive synthetic sweetener that was developed as a sugar substitute for food and beverage applications. It has not been approved by the FDA and remains prohibited from use in food products in the United States.

Potassium 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 safety concerns identified in animal studies, though regulatory status varies internationally.

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.