Sugar substitutes: saccharin

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on July 27, 2012 at 12:10 AM


sweet.JPGView full sizeSweet'N Low contains saccharin, an artificial sweetener that was accidentally discovered in 1879.
WHAT IS IT: Saccharin is an artificial sweetener that was accidentally discovered in 1879. It is 200 times to 700 times sweeter than sugar. It is used in many diet foods and drinks. 

SOLD AS: Saccharin. Brand names include Sweet’N Low, Sweet Twin and NectaSweet. 

NUTRITION: One packet of Sweet’N Low contains slightly less than 4 calories and just 0.9 grams of carbohydrates. Diabetics can use it in their diets and it is gluten free. 

TAKE NOTE: Saccharin faced controversy 20 years ago when a study found bladder tumors in male rats that had been fed a diet of high doses of sodium saccharine. Since then, saccharin has been studied and determined safe for human consumption by the Food and Drug Administration. In 2000, it was removed from the U.S. National Toxicology Program’s list of known carcinogens. 

HOW TO USE: Saccharin is commonly used as a tabletop sweetener and can be used in baking recipes and preserves. Sweet’N Low’s website recommends substituting half of the sugar in a recipe with an equivalent amount of Sweet’N Low. A quarter cup of sugar is equivalent to 2 teaspoons or six packets of Sweet’N Low. 
SOURCES: MedlinePlus, National Cancer Institute,,