asesulfamaatiksi

Asesulfamaatiksi, also known as acesulfame potassium or Ace-K, is a calorie-free artificial sweetener. It is approximately 200 times sweeter than sucrose (table sugar). Discovered accidentally in 1967 by Karl Clauss and James M. Schlatter at Hoechst AG, it is synthesized from diketene.

Ace-K is widely used in various food and beverage products, including diet soft drinks, sugar-free baked goods, chewing gum, and dairy products. Its sweet taste is often described as being similar to sugar, though some individuals perceive a slight bitter or metallic aftertaste, particularly at high concentrations. To mitigate this, it is frequently blended with other sweeteners like aspartame or sucralose, which can enhance the overall flavor profile.

The chemical compound is a potassium salt, with the chemical formula C4H4KNO4S. It is stable under a wide range of processing conditions, including high temperatures, making it suitable for baking and cooking. Ace-K is not metabolized by the body and is excreted unchanged, meaning it provides no caloric energy. Regulatory bodies in many countries, including the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), have approved its use as a food additive, establishing acceptable daily intake (ADI) levels.