Saccharin

Synonyms: 1,2-Benzisothiazolin-3-one 1,1-dioxide; benzoic acid sulfimide; benzoic sulfimide; benzosulfimide; 1,2-dihydro-2-ketobenzisosulfonazole; 2,3-dihydro-3-oxobenzisosulfonazole; E954; Garantose; gluside; Hermesetas; sacarina; saccarina; saccharin insoluble; saccharinum; o-sulfobenzimide; o-sulfobenzoic acid imide.

Description: Saccharin occurs as odorless white crystals or a white crystalline powder. It has an intensely sweet taste, with a metallic or bitter aftertaste that at normal levels of use can be detected by approximately 25% of the population. The aftertaste can be masked by blending saccharin with other sweeteners.

Chemical Name: 1,2-Benzisothiazol-3(2H)-one 1,1-dioxide

Sweetening agent.

• Saccharin is an intense sweetening agent used in beverages, food products, table-top sweeteners, and oral hygiene products such as toothpastes and mouthwashes.

• In oral pharmaceutical formulations, it is used at a concentration of 0.02–0.5% w/w. It has been used in chewable tablet formulations as a sweetening agent.

• Saccharin has been used to form various pharmaceutical cocrystals.

• Saccharin can be used to mask some unpleasant taste characteristics or to enhance flavor systems.

• Its sweetening power is approximately 300–600 times that of sucrose.

Saccharin can react with large molecules, resulting in a precipitate being formed. It does not undergo Maillard browning

There has been considerable controversy concerning the safety of saccharin, which has led to extensive studies since the mid-1970s. Two-generation studies in rats exposed to diets containing 5.0–7.5% total saccharin (equivalent to 175 g daily in humans) suggested that the incidence of bladder tumors was significantly greater in saccharin-treated males of the second generation than in controls. Further experiments in rats suggested that a contaminant of commercial saccharin, o-toluene sulfonamide, might also account for carcinogenic effects. In view of these studies, a ban on the use of saccharin was proposed in several countries. However, in 1977 a ban by the FDA led to a Congressional moratorium that permitted the continued use of saccharin in the USA. From the available data it now appears that the development of tumors is a sex-, species-, and organ-specific phenomenon, and extensive epidemiological studies have shown that saccharin intake is not related to bladder cancer in humans.

Observe normal precautions appropriate to the circumstances and quantity of material handled. Eye protection and a dust mask are recommended.

Acesulfame potassium; alitame; aspartame; isomalt; lactilol; maltitol; mannitol; neotame; saccharin ammonium; saccharin calcium; saccharin sodium; sodium cyclamate; sorbitol; sucralose; tagatose; thaumatin; xylitol.