Acesulfame potassium is a calorie-free artificial sweetener, also known as Acesulfame K or Ace K, and marketed under the trade names Sunett and Sweet One. In the European Union it is also known under the E number (additive code) E950. It was discovered accidentally in 1967 by German chemist Karl Clauss at Hoechst AG (now Nutrinova).

Chemically, acesulfame potassium is the potassium salt of 6-methyl-1,2,3- oxathiazine-4(3H)-one 2,2-dioxide. It is white crystalline powder with molecular formula of C4H4KNO4S and molecular weight of 201.24.

Acesulfame K is 180-200 times sweeter than sucrose (table sugar), as sweet as aspartame, about half as sweet as saccharin, and one-quarter the sweetness of sucralose. Like saccharin, it has a slightly bitter aftertaste, especially at high concentrations. Kraft Foods has patented the use of sodium ferulate to mask acesulfame's aftertaste. Alternatively, acesulfame K is often blended with aspartame or other sweeteners. These blends are reputed to give a more sugar-like taste where each sweetener masks the other's aftertaste, and to exhibit a synergistic effect wherein the blend is sweeter than its components.

Unlike aspartame, acesulfame K is stable under heat, even under moderately acidic or basic conditions, allowing it to be used in baking, or in products that require a long shelf life.

Popular products containing acesulfame K include Diet Rite Cola, Pepsi Max, Coca-Cola Zero, Fresca, Diet Coke with Splenda, Sprite Zero, Powerade, Trident gum, Wrigley's Spearmint gum, some SoBe products, Propel Fitness Water, Sugarfree Red Bull, Diet Arizona Energy Drinks, Danone Silhouette spring water-based beverage, sugarfree Jell-O, and Equal table sweetener. In carbonated drinks it is almost always used in conjunction with another sweetener, such as aspartame or sucralose.

This information has not been verified and may or may not be reliable. It is for informational purposes only. If you have specific health concerns, consult your physician.

Source: Wikipedia
Wikipedia text used under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License