Siklamik asit

Detailed information

What it is & how it is made

Intense sweeteners produced by chemical synthesis, covering cyclamic acid and its sodium and calcium salts (cyclamates).

Where it is used

Used in energy-reduced or no-added-sugar beverages, desserts, confectionery and table-top sweeteners; in the EU maximum use levels are restricted by product group. They also appear in the lists of the Turkish Food Codex Regulation on Food Additives.

Health note

In March 2000 the EU Scientific Committee on Food (SCF) revised its opinion and, on the basis of evidence that the conversion of cyclamate to cyclohexylamine in the body is higher than previously assumed, lowered the acceptable daily intake from 11 mg/kg to 7 mg/kg body weight per day expressed as cyclamic acid. This value is based on a NOAEL of 100 mg/kg body weight for cyclohexylamine. Following the reduction of the ADI, maximum use levels were also reduced by Directive 2003/115/EC (for example from 400 mg/L to 250 mg/L in soft drinks). Within EFSA's re-evaluation programme for sweeteners no opinion has yet been published for E 952.

Halal assessment

Production is entirely by chemical synthesis; no animal input is reported. Consult the manufacturer's halal certificate for a definitive answer.