Knowra Acesulfame potassium Acesulfame potassium Acesulfame potassium, or acesulfame K, is a calorie-free artificial sweetener about 200 times sweeter than sucrose. It is heat-stable and often combined with other sweeteners in foods and drinks.
Taste receptor type 1 member 2 : A protein subunit of the sweet taste receptor that helps detect sugars and many non-sugar sweeteners. Acesulfame K produces sweetness by activating the human sweet taste receptor.
Diet soda : A carbonated soft drink sweetened with non-sugar sweeteners rather than conventional amounts of sugar. Acesulfame K is used alone or in blends to sweeten many reduced-calorie soft drinks.
Karl Clauss : A German chemist who discovered acesulfame potassium while working at Hoechst AG. Clauss discovered the sweetener in 1967 during research on related chemical compounds.
Sucralose : A non-nutritive sweetener produced by chemically modifying sucrose, commonly used in foods and drinks. Like acesulfame K, it is heat-stable, but it has a different chemical structure and flavor profile.
Food safety : The assessment and management of hazards associated with producing, distributing, and consuming food. Acesulfame K is evaluated as a food additive through toxicology and exposure assessments.
Sweetness : A sensory quality produced when taste receptors respond to sugars and other sweet-tasting compounds. The perceived sweetness of acesulfame K depends on receptor activation and concentration.
Sugar substitute : A substance used in place of sugar to provide sweetness, with or without similar calories or bulk. Acesulfame K is a high-intensity sugar substitute, not a bulk ingredient.
Hoechst AG : A German chemical and pharmaceutical company that later became part of Hoechst Marion Roussel and Sanofi. Acesulfame K was discovered at Hoechst and initially developed there as a sweetener.
Saccharin : A synthetic, high-intensity sweetener used in foods, beverages, and tabletop products. It is another long-used non-sugar sweetener, with a distinct aftertaste and chemical structure.
Toxicology : The study of harmful effects that chemical, biological, or physical agents can have on living organisms. Toxicological studies underpin the safety limits established for acesulfame K.
Show all 27