Back to catalogSafety
E969SweetenerLow concern
Advantame
In plain words
The short version
The newest aspartame derivative — about 20000× sweeter than sucrose, the highest-potency food sweetener.
Why it's green
It's widely considered safe at the amounts used in food, so we mark it green. The Safety section below has the details.
Safety profile
ADI of 0–5 mg/kg body weight. Like neotame, the bulky N-substituent blocks enzymatic release of phenylalanine — no PKU warning required. Largely excreted unchanged.
The detail
Developed by Ajinomoto and approved by the FDA in 2014 — the newest high-intensity sweetener on the market. Synthesized by adding a 3-(3-hydroxy-4-methoxyphenyl)propyl group to the amino nitrogen of aspartame.
About 20000× sweeter than sucrose — the highest of any commercial food sweetener. Used at parts-per-million levels in diet beverages, low-calorie dairy, chewing gum, and tabletop sweetener blends. Cleaner sweetness profile than aspartame; very small dose footprint.
White to off-white crystalline powder. Soluble in water and ethanol. More heat-stable than aspartame.
Permitted in the EU (since 2014), US, Australia, New Zealand, and Japan.
Sources
- JECFA database: Advantame (evaluations 2013 and 2015) — WHO / FAO Joint Expert Committee on Food Additives, 2013. ADI 0–5 mg/kg bw; ADI also applies to people with PKU
- Commission Regulation (EU) No 497/2014 of 14 May 2014 authorising advantame (E 969) as a sweetener — European Commission (EUR-Lex), 2014. EU authorisation 2014; EFSA ADI 5 mg/kg bw/day (EFSA Journal 2013;11(7):3301)
- 21 CFR 172.803 Advantame (79 FR 29085, May 21, 2014), CFR 2025 edition — US Government Publishing Office (govinfo), 2025. FDA approval 2014 as general-purpose sweetener
Checked against these sources on .
Educational information only. Not medical, dietary or veterinary advice. Spotted an error? Tell us.