Sodium Saccharin

Sodium saccharin is an artificial sweetener, meaning it provides a sweet taste without the calories of sugar. It is synthesized from chemicals, typically starting with toluene or methyl benzoate.

Manufacturers use sodium saccharin as a high-intensity sweetener in a variety of foods and beverages, especially those aiming for a low-calorie or sugar-free profile. It is commonly found in diet drinks, tabletop sweeteners, baked goods, jams, and chewing gum.

In the U.S., sodium saccharin is permitted for use in food. Regulatory bodies like the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) and the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) have evaluated saccharin. Early studies in the 1970s linked saccharin to bladder cancer in male rats, leading to warning labels. However, subsequent research indicated that the mechanism in rats was not relevant to humans, and major health organizations no longer consider saccharin to be carcinogenic to humans.