E961: Nutrition, Pros & Cons
E961, commonly known as Neotame, is a high-intensity artificial sweetener and flavor enhancer. It is approximately 7,000 to 13,000 times sweeter than sucrose and is used in extremely small quantities to sweeten food products without adding calories or raising blood sugar levels.
Pros
- Approved by FSSAI as a safe non-nutritive sweetener for use in various food and beverage categories under specified limits. [FSSAI]
- Provides an intense sweet taste without contributing to tooth decay or calorie intake. [PubMed]
Cons
- National dietary guidelines advise limiting the consumption of foods containing artificial sweeteners to maintain overall health. [ICMR-NIN]
- As a highly processed additive, its regular consumption is often associated with ultra-processed foods, which are recommended to be minimized. [ICMR-NIN]
Key nutrients
- None — Neotame is used in micro-quantities and does not contribute any vitamins, minerals, or energy to the diet.