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Sweeteners and Sugar Substitutes

Noncaloric sweeteners, also called no- and low-calorie sweeteners, or sugar substitutes, add sweetness to foods and beverages without adding calories. According to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, foods and beverages sweetened with noncaloric sweeteners can be incorporated into a healthy eating plan.

Noncaloric sweeteners can help make reduced-calorie foods and beverages taste better, which can help in long-term weight maintenance. Keep in mind that products containing noncaloric sweeteners may not be calorie-free or fat-free. Check the food labels for nutritional information. For more information, visit www.eatright.org.

The following is a chart of noncaloric sweeteners approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Due to limited studies in children, the AAP has no official recommendations regarding the use of noncaloric sweeteners.

Noncaloric Sweeteners Approved by the FDA

	Brand Name(s)	Year Approved	General Information
Acesulfame potassium (Ace-K)	Sunett, Sweet & Safe, Sweet One	1988	All noncaloric sweeteners are Safe for the general population, including people with diabetes, pregnant women, and children. (Note: Aspartame contains phenylalanine and is not safe for people with a rare hereditary condition called phenylketonuria [PKU].) Do not cause or increase the risk of cancer. (Note: In 2001 products containing saccharin no longer required a warning label; studies found no link between saccharin and bladder cancer in humans.) Do not cause or increase the risk of other health conditions. Sweetness and taste vary among sweeteners.
Aspartame	Nutrasweet, Equal, Sugar Twin (blue box)	1981
Saccharin	Sweet'N Low, Sweet Twin, Necta Sweet	Years prior to 1958
Rebiana	Truvia	2008
Sucralose	Splenda	1998

Last Updated: 5/11/2013

The information contained on this Web site should not be used as a substitute for the medical care and advice of your pediatrician. There may be variations in treatment that your pediatrician may recommend based on individual facts and circumstances.