Toxic Food Additives: Part I- Acesulfame Potassium

On advice of an honourable reader, I would like to cite few food additives commonly used in edible food items and the hazardous effects they yield to our health. It would really make me happy to recieve comments and discussions would even be better.

Acesulfame Potassium

Acesulfame potassium was discovered accidentally in 1967 by German chemist Karl Clauss at Hoechst AG (now Nutrinova).

Acesulfame is a sugar substitute, which is sold in packet or tablet form, in chewing gum, dry mixes for beverages, instant coffee and tea, gelatin desserts, puddings and non-dairy creamers. It is also known commercially as Sunette or Sweet One. In the European Union, it is known under the E number (additive code) E950.

Chemical Nature

In chemical structure, acesulfame potassium is the potassium salt of 6-methyl-1,2,3- oxathiazine-4(3H)-one 2,2-dioxide. It is a white crystalline powder with molecular formula C4H4KNO4S and a molecular weight of 201.24.

Experimental Evidences

Tests show that this additive causes cancer in animals;consequently it has a really high probablity in causing cancer in humans too.
Acesulfame Potassium (K) was approved for use by USFDA as a safe artificial sweetener in July, l988. Unfortunately, several potential problems associated with the use of acesulfame have been raised thereafter. They were based largely on animal studies. It was then petitioned on August 29, l988 for a stay of approval by the FDA because of significant doubt about its safety.

Pharmacology

Acesulfame K (or Acesulfame potassium) stimulates insulin secretion in a dose dependent fashion thereby possibly aggravating the sensible situation of hypoglycemia.

Toxicity of Acesulfame K

Acesulfame K may apparently produce lung tumors, breast tumors, rare types of tumors of other organs (such as the thymus gland). It even produced several forms of leukemia and chronic respiratory disease in several rodent studies, even when less than maximum doses were given.

Hence, it is adviced to clearly see the label of all products for inclusion of such hazardous additives and necessary precautions be taken accordingly.