Acesulfame-K (Ace-K) is a calorie-free sweetener that is 200 times sweeter than sugar. It is used in various food products available in the market. Ace-K is one of the five artificial sweeteners approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
A variety of drinks and foods consist of Ace-K, which includes table-top sweeteners, dairy products, chewing gum, jam, frozen desserts, baked goods, and cola and fizzy drinks. It is mainly used in baked items as it retains its sweetness even at very high temperatures. Ace-K cannot be stored in the human body or broken down during digestion; after consumption, it is rapidly absorbed and excreted by the body without any change.
Ace-K was first discovered in 1967 by Hoechst AG, Germany. Thereafter, nearly hundred studies have been conducted to evaluate Ace-K safety. Every time, they revealed that this sugar-free sweetener is considered to be safe and suitable for ingestion. In 1983, it was approved for using this sweetener in food and beverages and it is used in nearly 100 countries all over the world.
The FDA had evaluated a number of studies before providing approval for this sweetener. In 1998, FDA approved the use of Ace-K in soft drinks (non-alcoholic drinks). In December 2003, FDA granted permission for its general usage in foods and drinks.
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