What Is Acesulfame Potassium?
Acesulfame potassium is a sweetener about 200 times sweeter than table sugar, the FDA says, often combined with other sweeteners and listed on ingredient labels as acesulfame K, acesulfame potassium or Ace-K. The FDA says it is sold under the brand names Sunett and Sweet One.
The FDA regulates it as a food additive. It approved acesulfame potassium for specific food and beverage categories in 1988, and in 2003 as a general-purpose sweetener and flavor enhancer in food, except in meat and poultry, under certain conditions of use. Because it is heat stable, it stays sweet at baking temperatures. To determine its safety, the FDA says it reviewed more than 90 studies designed to identify possible toxic effects, including studies on reproductive effects, carcinogenicity and metabolism.
The FDA lists the acceptable daily intake for acesulfame potassium as 15 mg per kilogram of body weight per day. Federal rules require it to be at least 99 percent pure, and allow it in foods generally, except meat and poultry, in an amount not exceeding what is reasonably required for its intended effect.
Sources checked September 15, 2026. Every point below links the page it came from.
The sources behind this answer
- Government sourceThe FDA says acesulfame potassium is about 200 times sweeter than table sugar, is often combined with other sweeteners, and appears on labels as acesulfame K, acesulfame potassium or Ace-K. US FDA ↗
- Regulatory filingThe FDA approved acesulfame potassium for specific food and beverage categories in 1988, and in 2003 as a general-purpose sweetener and flavor enhancer in food, except in meat and poultry. US FDA ↗
- Government sourceThe FDA says acesulfame potassium is heat stable, meaning it stays sweet at hot temperatures during baking. US FDA ↗
- Government sourceThe FDA says that to determine the safety of acesulfame potassium it reviewed more than 90 studies designed to identify possible toxic effects, including reproductive effects, carcinogenicity and metabolism. US FDA ↗
- Regulatory filingThe FDA lists the acceptable daily intake for acesulfame potassium as 15 mg per kilogram of body weight per day. US FDA ↗
- Regulatory filingUnder 21 CFR 172.800, acesulfame potassium may be used as a general-purpose sweetener and flavor enhancer in foods, except meat and poultry, at a purity of not less than 99 percent on a dry basis. eCFR, 21 CFR 172.800 ↗
Sources checked September 15, 2026. A brand statement is the company’s own claim, which we report but have not verified. Our grades are model-based estimates, not lab tests.