Artificial sweeteners, nowadays, have a wide-application range from foods, drugs, personal products, and drinks (Weihrauch and Diehl 1460). However, the media have disseminated the alleged carcinogenic components of commercialized artificial sweeteners; thus, artificial sweeteners have gained the negative perception of the public (Weihrauch and Diehl 1460). In 1879, Remsen and Fahlberg synthesized saccharin, the first artificial sweetener (Weihrauch and Diehl 1460).
Saccharin, produced at low cost, was patronized by the general public during the first and second World Wars (Weihrauch and Diehl 1460). Then, by 1950s, saccharin received wide acceptance because of the public perception on its low calorific value (Weihrauch and Diehl 1460). In relation to this, saccharin was employed in the production of sweet products for its extreme sweetness but its bitter after taste led the public to crave for an artificial sweetener with an improved taste and of low calorific value (Weihrauch and Diehl 1460).
In replacement for saccharin, cyclamate was synthesized and blended with saccharin to produce the well-known “Sweet n’ Low” (Weihrauch and Diehl 1460). Also, cyclamate was used not only as household sweetener but also as artificial sugar in soft drinks industry (Weihrauch and Diehl 1460). In 1970, the United States Food and Drug Administration became suspicious with the cyclamate’s safety because of the cancer-induced cases on animal experiments (Weihrauch and Diehl 1460).
At present, cyclamate is still used in concoction with other sweetening agents as well as aspartame in its “Nutra-Sweet” commercial brand (Weihrauch and Diehl 1460). Thus, products with the term “light” or “diet” in their brand names along with dairy products are commonly seen in the market today (Weihrauch and Diehl 1460). Literature Review In 1950, cyclamates were commercialized in the United States but banned in 1970 due to the reports that they triggered development of cancer in rats at high doses (Sackheim and Lehman 350).
On the other hand, aspartame was widely accepted because, unlike saccharin, it has no bitter after taste. Additionally, studies showed that aspartame was generally safe except for the cases that require low phenylalanine diet (Sackheim and Lehman 350). Recently, the United States Food and Drug Administration approved another artificial sugar called neotame, for public consumption (Hein, Best, Pattison, and Arena 312).
Neotame was described as 7,000-13,000 times sweeter than sucrose (Hein, Best, Pattison, and Arena 312). As aspartame, cyclamate, and saccharin were the first generation artificial sweeteners, neotame, sucralose, acesulfame-K, and alitame were the second generation of artificial sugars (Weihrauch and Diehl 1460). The second generation, just like the first, has several negative properties which include non-realistic sugar mouth feel, metallic and bitter after taste (Weihrauch and Diehl 1461).
Meanwhile, the improvement of their taste quality is attained through synergic effect of their proper combination (Weihrauch and Diehl 1461). For instance, the concoction of aspartame and acesulfame-K with other artificial sweeteners, has improved the taste quality of soft drinks (Weihrauch and Diehl 1461). With the popularity of artificial sugars, negative publicities on their safety, particularly carcinogenic potentiality, have emerged and caused hesitations on the mind of the public (Weihrauch and Diehl 1461).