E954

Sweetener
This is the oldest sugar substitute. It was discovered in 1879 and used during the two World Wars to compensate for the shortage of sugar.

The first attempt to ban it came in 1911 when it was branded an ‘adulterant’ and not to be used in foods. All restrictions were dropped when World War 1 began.

Studies carried out during 1972 and 1973 raised concerns when rats fed saccharin developed bladder cancer, these results were dismissed as ‘impurities in the test conditions’. In 1977 a Canadian study confirmed the original results and the FDA proposed banning saccharine as a sugar substitute for home use. A public outcry followed (fuelled by the media) and the FDA compromised the labelling any products containing saccharine as ‘maybe hazardous to your health’.

These conditions have just been extended until 2002, (USA only). The US government National Toxicology Program has kept saccharine on its list of ‘anticipated carcinogens’. The FDA has promoted that consumption in moderation is the key to a lower risk of cancer.