What are artificial sweeteners?
Artificial sweeteners are synthetic sugar substitutes engineered to provide intense sweetness without the calories of traditional sugar. Common examples include aspartame, sucralose, saccharin, and acesulfame potassium, each offering sweetness levels 200 to 700 times greater than sucrose. These food additives have become widely used in diet beverages, sugar-free foods, and reduced-calorie products, and are identified in the NOVA food classification system as characteristic ingredients of ultra-processed foods. The FDA has approved six high-intensity sweeteners: saccharin, aspartame, acesulfame potassium, sucralose, neotame, and advantame.
13,347 products in our database contain artificial sweeteners. 9,872 of them (74%) are Level 4, the most processed of our four levels.
Which foods contain artificial sweeteners?
Artificial sweeteners are found in diet sodas, sugar-free candies, light yogurts, reduced-calorie desserts, sugar-free gum, tabletop sweetener packets, protein powders, flavored water, and many products marketed as zero-sugar, sugar-free, or low-calorie alternatives.
Cranberry Pomegranate Flavored Energy Juice Drink Blended with Grape Juice, Cranberry Pomegranate
Raspberry + Acai a Lightly Sparkling, Healthy Energy Drink with Ultra-Premium Green Tea, Essential Vitamins and Nutrients.
Dark Cherry Lime Healthy Energy Drink, Dark Cherry Lime
Raspberry + Acai Healthy Energy Drink, Raspberry + Acai
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Coffee Double Energy Drink, Coffee
Mocha Double Energy Coffee Drink, Mocha
Vanilla Double Energy Coffee Drink, Vanilla
Mango Lemonade Healthy Energy Drink, Mango Lemonade
Apple + Acai Lightly Sparkling and Refreshing Healthy Energy Drink, Apple + Acai
V8, V-Fusion, +Energy, Peach and Mango Flavored Beverage Blend, Peach, Mango
Sparkling Wild Berry Energy Drink, Wild Berry
Celsius
Non-Carbonated Raspberry Aai + Green Tea Energy Drink, Raspberry; Aai; Green Tea
Celsius
Non-Carbonated Raspberry Aai + Green Tea Energy Drink
Celsius
Grape Rush Sparkling Energy Drink, Grape Rush
Celsius
Sparkling Ice Cherry Limeade, with Antioxidants and Vitamins, Zero Sugar, 17 Ounce Bottle
Sparkling Ice
Act Ii Kettle Corn Popcorn, 16.5 Oz
Act Ii Kettle Corn, 8.25 Oz
Sweet & Salty Microwave Kettle Corn Popcorn Bags, Sweet & Salty
Kimlan, Soy Paste
Sweet & Salty Kettle Corn Microwave Popcorn
Ahold, Old Fashioned Kettle Corn Microwave Popcorn
Kettle Corn Sweet & Salty Microwave Popcorn
Zimmerman's Dairy, Iced Tea, Lemon
Southern Tea
Harris Teeter, Fresh Foods Market, Sugar Free Sweet Tea
Light Non-Alcoholic Malt Beverage
Old Fashioned Kettle Corn
Visvita, Aloe Vera Drink
Bonbons
Apple No Sugar Added Pie Filling or Topping, Apple
Great Value
Granulated Sugar Substitute Packets
Equal, Sucralose 0 Calorie Sweetener
Great Value, No Calorie Sweetener
No Calorie Sweetener
Sucralose Sweetener
Kroger, Apriva, Zero Calorie Sweetener with Sucralose
Sliced Peaches in Water
Zero-Calorie Sweetener with Aspartame
Fresh Brewed Sugar-Free Tea
Sprinkle the Love No Calorie Sweetener
Sugar Blend Sweetener
Signature Kitchens, Sucralose Zero Calorie Sweetener Blend
No Calorie Sweetener with Fiber
Yellow Cling Peach Slices with Splenda
Bartlett Pear Halves in Water
Allure, Sweetener
Allure, Sweetener
Allure
Also known as
Artificial Sweeteners can appear in ingredient lists under several names. If you see any of the following, this is the ingredient family you are looking at:
Function
Artificial sweeteners deliver a sweet taste sensation while contributing minimal or zero calories to the finished product. They allow manufacturers to create diet and sugar-free versions of popular foods and beverages without sacrificing the sweetness consumers expect. Because they are intensely sweet, only small amounts are needed, making them cost-effective for large-scale food production. Different artificial sweeteners have distinct sweetness profiles, aftertastes, and stability characteristics that determine their suitability for specific food applications.
Sources
Artificial sweeteners are produced through chemical synthesis in industrial settings. Aspartame is synthesized from two amino acids (aspartic acid and phenylalanine). Sucralose is made by chlorinating sucrose molecules at specific positions. Saccharin is derived from benzoic acid compounds through chemical synthesis. Acesulfame potassium is created through a chemical process involving acetoacetic acid and potassium. Each sweetener has a distinct chemical structure and synthesis pathway that determines its sweetness profile and functional properties.
Health considerations
Each FDA-approved artificial sweetener has an established Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI) — the amount considered acceptable for daily consumption over a lifetime. Products containing aspartame must carry a PKU warning label because aspartame contains phenylalanine, which individuals with phenylketonuria (PKU) cannot metabolize. Research on artificial sweeteners continues, with studies examining various aspects of their consumption. The FDA periodically reviews the safety data for approved sweeteners.
This information is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice.
Regulatory
All artificial sweeteners used in food must receive FDA approval as food additives or be recognized as GRAS. Each sweetener has specific approved uses and maximum permitted levels in different food categories. Products containing aspartame must include a PKU warning statement. The EU and other international regulatory bodies maintain their own approval processes and acceptable daily intake recommendations. The FDA has approved six high-intensity sweeteners and several natural high-intensity sweeteners (stevia, monk fruit).