Review of Low-Calorie Sweeteners Inaccurate

ATLANTA (April 30, 2014) — A review article by Chattopadhyay et al. contained inaccurate information on low-calorie sweeteners, including aspartame, acesulfame potassium and saccharin.

The review included a number of inaccuracies regarding low-calorie sweeteners, some of which are as follows:

• Some caloric values for low-calorie sweeteners were incorrect. In the review, a table including caloric values for caloric sweeteners, including polyols, was provided. The caloric values for maltitol (3.0 calories/gram) and xylitol (3.0 calories/gram) are not in line with the caloric values approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and other regulatory organizations. The FDA-approved values are 2.1 and 2.4 for maltitol and xylitol, respectively.
• Several of the sweetness comparisons to sugar were false. In order to determine the sweetness of a low-calorie sweetener, its sweetness is compared to sugar (sucrose). In the review, the sweetness values as compared to sugar were the following:
  • Acesulfame potassium: 120 times sweeter (actual sweetness: 200 times)
  • Alitame: 200 times sweeter (actual sweetness: 2,000 times)
  • Steviol glycosides: 10-15 times sweeter (actual sweetness: 300 times)

For more information on low-calorie sweeteners, please visit the Council’s “Frequently Asked Questions” page here or see our educational brochures on various low-calorie sweeteners here.

Chattopadhyay S, Raychaudhuri U, Chakraborty R. Artificial sweeteners – a review. J Food Sci Technol, 2014. 51(4): 611-621.