Acesulfame potassium, an artificial sweetener often found in sugar-free and low-calorie foods, has sparked its fair share of debate regarding its safety and overall effects on blood glucose. Like many natural, non-nutritive sweeteners and artificial sweeteners, acesulfame potassium helps sweeten food and drinks without the need for added sugar. 

While the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) claims that it’s a safe alternative to table sugar, and it’s been approved for use as a general sweetener and food additive since 2003, some organizations worry about its long-term health effects, including potential cancer risks.¹ In this article, we’ll look at acesulfame potassium and its safety, potential health risks, and what foods you’ll find it in. 

Whether you’re trying to cut back on sugar or just want to be more informed about your food choices, this article will help you understand the artificial sweetener acesulfame potassium and decide whether it’s right for you.

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What Is Acesulfame Potassium?

Acesulfame potassium (also known as ace-K) is a calorie-free sweetener used to add sweetness to foods and beverages without raising blood sugar or adding sugar or calories. As one of the approved high-intensity sweeteners, only a small amount must be used as it’s about 200 times sweeter than sucrose.  It was first approved by the FDA in 1988 and has been used as a general-purpose sweetener and flavor enhancer since 2003.¹  Unlike some artificial sweeteners, acesulfame potassium is heat-stable, making it a popular sugar alternative in baked goods. 

While most non-nutritive and artificial sweeteners are not fully absorbed, ace-K is quickly and almost completely absorbed into the bloodstream and tissue throughout the body before being excreted almost entirely through urine within 24 hours. Unlike sugar and many other sugar alcohols, ace-K passes through the body intact, without being metabolized or broken down into smaller components.²

Foods That Contain Acesulfame Potassium

Acesulfame potassium is used in a wide variety of foods and drinks, especially those marketed as sugar-free or low-calorie. Its stability at high temperatures and solubility in liquid makes it a popular option for everything from diet sodas to sugar-free cookies. 

Some common foods that contain acesulfame potassium include:

• Beverages (soda and soft drinks, energy drinks, flavored water)
• Chewing gum and candies
• Breakfast cereals
• Sauces and dressings
• Yogurt and other dairy products
• Condiments
• Jellies and marmalades
• Ice cream and frozen desserts

Acesulfame potassium is also sold under the brand names Sunett and Sweet One. Due to its slightly bitter aftertaste, it’s often combined with another low-calorie or no-calorie sweetener when added to foods. In the popular sugar substitute Equal, acesulfame potassium is combined with maltodextrin and aspartame. 

Is Acesulfame Potassium Safe? Impact on Health

Based on several research studies, the FDA, European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), and other global health organizations recognize ace-K as safe when eaten within the acceptable daily intake (ADI). The Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) set the ADI for acesulfame potassium at 15 milligrams per kilogram of body weight per day.³ This would be the equivalent of about 23 sweetener packets–much more than the average person would use in a day.¹ 

Many people enjoy the benefits of ace-K since it adds sweetness to foods and drinks without directly impacting blood sugar. However, some research suggests that high levels of acesulfame potassium may alter gut bacteria and increase inflammation, which could have metabolic consequences, like weight gain, obesity, and glucose intolerance, over time.⁴ Recent research also suggests that high use of ace-K in adolescence is associated with an increased risk of early puberty in girls.⁵ Most of this research has included animal studies or with high amounts of ace-K, indicating that more research is needed to evaluate the effects of mild or moderate artificial sweeteners in humans.

<div class="pro-tip"><strong>Learn More: </strong><a href=sugar-substitutes-and-artificial-sweeteners-part-3>Are Artificial Sweeteners Worse Than Sugar?</a>.</div>

Acesulfame Potassium and Cancer: What Is the Link?

In 2022, artificial sweetener use and cancer risk were evaluated using the NutriNet-Santé population-based cohort study, a French population-based study of 102,865 adults. In this study, higher intakes of acesulfame potassium (and aspartame) were associated with increased cancer risk.⁶

While this study doesn’t prove that acesulfame potassium causes cancer or is a direct cause of increased risk, it implies that more research may be needed in this area. 

What to Consider When Using Acesulfame Potassium

Take a look at the ingredients in your foods and drinks, especially sugar-free or diet options, and you may be surprised to see acesulfame potassium listed in a handful of your favorites. If you’re regularly eating foods sweetened with ace-K, you may want to consider the following: 

Potassium Intake

Since acesulfame potassium is a salt of potassium, you may think it contributes a large amount of potassium to your diet if you’re drinking or eating products that use this sugar alternative. However, even if you are restricting your potassium intake, you most likely do not have to worry about ace-K-containing foods that add a significant amount of potassium to your diet. 

Ace-K is about 20 percent potassium by weight, and the amount of potassium you’ll get from a 12-ounce can of soda sweetened with ace-K is only 12 milligrams.² The average American gets between 2,300 and 3,000 milligrams daily, and ace-K isn’t a major potassium contributor.⁷

A Potential Allergen

Acesulfame potassium is not a common allergen; among research studies, only one case seems to have been reported. In this instance, a person with a sulfite allergy developed a sensitivity to acesulfame potassium when eaten in large doses.⁸

Use in Moderation and Consider Serving Sizes

Most research that shows potential adverse effects of acesulfame potassium is related to higher doses. If you’re looking to reduce your sugar intake and rely on artificial sweeteners and non-nutritive sweeteners to do so, you can attempt to minimize any potential negative effects by reducing your portion size and only including it intermittently in your diet. 

The Bottom Line

Acesulfame potassium is an artificial sweetener used in many sugar-free and diet foods and drinks. It’s considered safe up to 15 milligrams per kilogram of body weight, but some research suggests high amounts could be related to negative effects like gut dysbiosis, inflammation, early puberty, and cancer. If using ace-K as a sugar substitute, being mindful of how often you use it and the serving size of the food it’s included in can help you enjoy its benefits safely.

<div class="pro-tip"><strong>Also Read: </strong><a href=artificial-sweeteners-and-sugar-substitutes>Sugar Substitutes and Artificial Sweeteners (Part 1)</a>.</div>