Acesulfame K E950
artificial — Primarily synthetic.
Potassium 6-methyl-1,2,3-oxathiazin-4(3H)-one 2,2-dioxide
CAS: 55589-62-3
Factual Regulatory Reference
This database provides factual regulatory information compiled from official government sources. It does not constitute medical, nutritional, or safety advice. Regulatory status varies by country and is subject to change. Always refer to your local regulatory authority for the most current information.
What Is Acesulfame K?
Acesulfame potassium (acesulfame-K, Ace-K) is a heat-stable, non-caloric synthetic sweetener approximately 200 times sweeter than sucrose. Unlike aspartame, it is stable at high temperatures, making it suitable for baking and cooking. It is commonly blended with other sweeteners (particularly aspartame or sucralose) to mask its slightly bitter aftertaste. JECFA established an ADI of 15 mg/kg body weight. EFSA reviewed acesulfame-K in 2000 and maintained this ADI. Approved in EU (since 1994), USA, Japan, Canada, and Australia. Widely used in sugar-free beverages and confectionery.
? Did You Know?
Beyond food, Acesulfame K is also used in cosmetics, medicine. Its versatility makes it one of the most multi-purpose chemical compounds in everyday life.
To reach the Acceptable Daily Intake limit, a 60kg adult would need to consume approximately ~13 cans of diet soda (355ml) in a single day. (This is a mathematical illustration, not a safety recommendation.)
Acesulfame K is fully synthetic — it doesn't exist in nature and is manufactured entirely through chemical processes.
Regulatory Analysis
Acesulfame-K (E950) is one of the few food additives to have undergone an ADI reduction from a completed EFSA re-evaluation in recent years. EFSA's 2025 scientific opinion established a new ADI of 9 mg/kg body weight per day, down from the previous 15 mg/kg that both EFSA and JECFA had maintained since the 1990s. The reduction followed a reassessment of studies including data on gut microbiome effects and metabolic interactions, though EFSA stated the substance remained acceptable at the new lower limit. This ADI reduction occurred entirely within the EU framework; JECFA had set its most recent ADI in 2016 at 15 mg/kg and has not yet completed a corresponding re-evaluation. The 2025 divergence between EFSA (9 mg/kg) and JECFA (15 mg/kg) for acesulfame-K represents an active example of how the same substance can hold different permitted intake values across international regulatory bodies operating on different re-evaluation schedules.
Detailed Regulatory Assessment
European Union (EFSA)
Maximum levels typically quantum satis or up to 2000 mg/kg
United States (FDA)
Approved since 1988
Japan (MHLW)
Compliant with Japanese food sanitation law.
Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI)
International Standard (JECFA)
mg/kg body weight per day
European Standard (EFSA)
Everyday Perspective
For a 60kg adult, this limit is roughly equivalent to consuming:
Natural Occurrence
This additive is not known to occur naturally in significant quantities.
Manufacturing
Synthesized from acetoacetic acid derivatives through cyclization and reaction with potassium hydroxide.
Applications Beyond Food
Used in toothpaste and mouthwash.
Used to sweeten pharmaceutical preparations and chewable tablets.