Understanding Non-Nutritive Sweeteners

Introduction

We all know that eating too much sugary food and drinks is associated with obesity, diabetes and heart problems. Hence, for many years, non-nutritive sweeteners like saccharin and steviol glycosides have helped people cut down on sugar. You can easily find them in many foods and beverages in the market, even if you don't add them yourself. While non-nutritive sweeteners have been used safely for a long time, some worry about possible health effects. Let's clear up some common misunderstandings about sweeteners.

What are non-nutritive sweeteners?

Non-nutritive sweeteners are sweetening agents added to food and drinks to make them taste just as sweet but with fewer or no calories. They can be artificially made (e.g. saccharin and aspartame) or naturally derived from plants (e.g. steviol glycosides). As they are many times sweeter than traditional table sugar, they are typically used in small amounts to replace sugars. 

Is it safe to eat non-nutritive sweeteners?

Like all food additives, non-nutritive sweeteners (i.e. artificially made or naturally derived from plants)  must be assessed for safety as sweetening agents before they can be sold in Singapore. SFA carefully considers local food consumption patterns while taking reference from studies published by international scientific expert panels e.g., the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA). This ensures that we consume a safe level of sweetening agents everyday over our lifetime.

SFA also has in place a food sampling and testing programme for these sweetening agents to ensure compliance. Their use must comply with maximum levels set in the Food Regulations and be clearly labelled on prepackaged food. More information on the safety of food additives can be found here: SFA | Food additives are they safe.

While sweeteners are generally safe for consumption, available evidence has also suggested that they do not confer any long-term health benefits. In 2023, the World Health Organization (WHO) advises against using non-nutritive sweeteners to lose weight or to lower the risk of long-term health problems like heart disease or diabetes. Instead, the WHO recommends that the key to control your weight is to balance the amount of calories you consumed and burnt. 

Advice to Industry

• Verify that the sweeteners in your food products are approved for use in Singapore as sweetening agents and are used within maximum permitted levels. You can refer to the “List of Permitted Food Additives” found on our website.
• Apply good manufacturing practices by using the lowest possible level necessary to accomplish its desired sweetness, unless otherwise prohibited by individual standards under the Food Regulations.
• Implement regular checks to ensure your food products meet Singapore’s labelling requirements.

Advice to Consumers

• Maintain a balanced diet and consume sweetened foods in moderation.
• Check labels to confirm the use of permitted sweetening agents. You can find resources available on our SFA website to learn how to interpret food additives listed on product labels.
• For individuals with phenylketonuria (PKU):
  • Avoid consuming aspartame, as it converts to phenylalanine in the body. PKU patients are unable to break down phenylalanine and this will build up in the body, potentially causing brain damage.
  • Carefully check food labels to identify products containing aspartame.

Reference

• Use of non-sugar sweeteners: WHO guideline
• Sweeteners and reducing sugar intake | HealthHub