Cyclamate
The short version
A high-intensity artificial sweetener — banned in the US since 1970 but permitted in the EU and much of the world.
It's permitted and generally considered safe, but there are a few reasons to be mindful — like sensitivities in some people, debated studies, or intake limits. The Safety section below explains the specifics.
Safety profile
ADI of 0–7 mg/kg body weight. The original 1969 rat-tumor finding was not replicated in subsequent studies; current EFSA and JECFA positions support safety at the ADI. Roughly 30% of human populations metabolize cyclamate to cyclohexylamine via gut bacteria — relevance to chronic toxicity remains debated.
Sources
- WHO JECFA database — Cyclamic acid (INS 952(i)), incl. sodium and calcium cyclamate — Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives, 2009. JECFA safety evaluation: ADI 0–11 mg/kg bw as cyclamic acid, reconfirmed 2009
- US eCFR — 21 CFR 189.135 Cyclamate and its derivatives (version of 2026-10-13) — Office of the Federal Register / US FDA, 2026. Cyclamate prohibited in US food
- FDA — Aspartame and Other Sweeteners in Food (content current as of 02/27/2025) — US Food and Drug Administration, 2025. Cyclamates not allowed in the US
- EU — Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 on food additives, Annex II (consolidated text of 18.08.2026) — Publications Office of the European Union, 2026. Cyclamates permitted in the EU with maximum levels
Checked against these sources on .
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