Aspartame-Acesulfame Salt
The short version
A single-salt blend of aspartame and acesulfame K (Twinsweet) — inherits both parents' safety profiles.
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
Inherits both the aspartame and acesulfame K safety profiles. Mandatory phenylketonuria (PKU) warning because of the aspartame content. In 2023 IARC classified aspartame as 'possibly carcinogenic to humans' (Group 2B), while JECFA reaffirmed its ADI of 0–40 mg/kg body weight. In its 2026 re-evaluation of E962, EFSA concluded that E962 does not pose a safety concern at current levels of exposure and that the existing ADIs for aspartame (40 mg/kg body weight per day) and acesulfame K (15 mg/kg body weight per day) remain valid for evaluating its safety.
Sources
- EFSA — Re-evaluation of salt of aspartame-acesulfame (E 962) as food additive (plain language summary, 2026; opinion doi:10.2903/j.efsa.2026.10259) — European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), 2026. Current EFSA safety conclusion and applicable ADIs
- JECFA evaluation summary — Aspartame-acesulfame salt (INS 962), 2000 — WHO/IPCS INCHEM (JECFA), 2000. Covered by aspartame and acesulfame K ADIs
- Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 — Annex III, labelling of aspartame/aspartame-acesulfame salt — EUR-Lex (European Union), 2011. Mandatory phenylalanine (PKU) statement
- WHO — Aspartame hazard and risk assessment results released (IARC and JECFA, 14 July 2023) — World Health Organization, 2023. IARC 2023 Group 2B classification of aspartame; JECFA ADI 40 reaffirmed
Checked against these sources on .
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