Food additives Europe numbers: E969
Advantame is a non-caloric artificial sweetener that is about 20,000 times sweeter than sugar . It is a relatively new sweetener, having been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2014. It is made from aspartame and vanillin, but it is metabolized differently in the body than aspartame.
Advantame is used in a variety of foods and beverages, including soft drinks, baked goods, chewing gum, confections, frostings, frozen desserts, gelatins, puddings, jams, jellies, processed fruits and fruit juices, toppings, and syrups.
The safety of advantame has been evaluated by a number of regulatory agencies, including the FDA, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), and the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA). These agencies have concluded that advantame is safe for human consumption at the levels of use that have been approved.
However, some people have raised concerns about the safety of advantame, as with all artificial sweeteners. These concerns are often based on the fact that aspartame, a similar sweetener, has been the subject of much controversy. However, it is important to note that advantame is a different molecule than aspartame, and it is metabolized differently in the body.