Is Saccharin Banned? EU vs US Status, Risks & Where It Hides
TL;DR: Saccharin is banned in the EU but allowed in the US (food additives).
Also called Sweet'N Low. (E954)
Other names: E954, Sweet'N Low, Sodium saccharin, Benzosulfimide
Is Saccharin banned in the EU?
| EU status | Banned |
|---|---|
| US status | Allowed |
| Risk level | — |
| Where it shows up | Sweet'N Low (tabletop pink packets), Some diet beverages (historically), Certain medications, Some mouthwashes, Some cosmetics and personal care products, Some artificially sweetened foods |
What is Saccharin?
Saccharin is the oldest artificial sweetener, discovered accidentally at Johns Hopkins in 1879. It is a sulfonamide compound approximately 300-400 times sweeter than sucrose with no caloric value. It has a slightly bitter metallic aftertaste at higher concentrations. Saccharin's sodium salt (sodium saccharin) is the form used in most food applications.
Why is Saccharin used in food?
Saccharin provides calorie-free sweetening in beverages, tabletop sweeteners (Sweet'N Low), cosmetics, and medications. It is extremely stable under heat and at high temperatures, making it durable in a wide range of applications. It is one of the cheapest artificial sweeteners.
Is Saccharin dangerous? Documented risks
Saccharin's carcinogenicity history is one of the most tumultuous in food regulatory history. In 1977, the FDA proposed banning saccharin after studies found it caused bladder cancer in rats at very high doses. Congress passed the Saccharin Study and Labeling Act, which put a moratorium on the ban and required a cancer warning label on saccharin products ('Use of this product may be hazardous to your health. This product contains saccharin which has been determined to cause cancer in laboratory animals.'). By 2000, saccharin was removed from the US National Toxicology Program's Report on Carcinogens after subsequent research determined that the bladder cancer in male rats was caused by a rat-specific mechanism — high pH, high protein, and calcium phosphate in rat urine — that does not apply to human urine. The cancer warning label requirement was repealed. IARC also removed saccharin from its Group 2B list in 1999. However, Canada maintained its ban on food use saccharin, citing continued precautionary concern. A 2022 study in Cell found saccharin was among the artificial sweeteners most significantly altering gut microbiome composition and glucose tolerance in previously non-sweetener-using participants. Saccharin showed the largest effect on glucose tolerance among the sweeteners studied (saccharin, sucralose, aspartame, stevia). Saccharin passes through the placenta and appears in breast milk, raising questions about infant exposure that have not been fully resolved.
Common US products containing Saccharin
- Crest 3D White Whitening ToothpasteCrest
- Crest Pro-Health Advanced ToothpasteCrest
- Colgate Total Whitening ToothpasteColgate
- Colgate Cavity Protection Fluoride ToothpasteColgate
- Sensodyne Pronamel Daily Protection ToothpasteSensodyne
- Hello Naturally Whitening Fluoride ToothpasteHello
- Arm & Hammer Advance White ToothpasteArm & Hammer
- Colgate Optic White Stain Fighter ToothpasteColgate
How to avoid Saccharin: safer alternatives
Stevia, monk fruit extract, and erythritol are widely available alternatives to saccharin without the carcinogenicity history or gut microbiome concerns documented in the 2022 Cell study.
Frequently asked questions about Saccharin
Is saccharin banned in Canada?
Yes. Canada bans saccharin for food use, permitting it only in certain pharmaceutical applications. This makes Canada one of the few major countries with a food ban on saccharin, which is still broadly permitted in the US and EU (with ADI restrictions).
Was saccharin proven to cause cancer?
In male rats, saccharin caused bladder cancer at very high doses through a rat-specific mechanism (calcium phosphate-induced cell proliferation in rat bladder epithelium) that does not occur in human bladders. Based on this finding, IARC removed saccharin from Group 2B in 1999 and the US removed it from the Report on Carcinogens in 2000. The rat carcinogenicity is mechanistically irrelevant to humans.
Is Sweet'N Low saccharin?
Yes. Sweet'N Low (the pink packet tabletop sweetener) contains sodium saccharin as its primary sweetener.
Does saccharin affect blood sugar?
A 2022 Cell study found saccharin showed the largest effect on glucose tolerance among four sweeteners tested, with saccharin consumption in non-habitual users associated with significant glucose tolerance changes. This is thought to be mediated by gut microbiome changes.
What is saccharin made from?
Saccharin is a synthetic compound made from toluene (originally) or from anthranilic acid and other chemical precursors. It is a sulfonamide compound with no natural source.
Is saccharin safe?
The FDA and EFSA currently consider saccharin safe at ADI levels for the general population. The bladder cancer concern is considered mechanistically irrelevant to humans. However, the 2022 Cell study found significant gut microbiome and glucose tolerance effects. Canada maintains a food ban. Long-term human data are limited.
How do I avoid saccharin?
Check labels for 'saccharin,' 'sodium saccharin,' 'E954,' or look for the Sweet'N Low branding. Choose stevia or monk fruit-based tabletop sweeteners instead (Truvia, Monk Fruit in the Raw).
Is saccharin still used in beverages?
Saccharin's use in beverages has declined significantly since the introduction of aspartame and sucralose. It is still used in some diet drinks, particularly outside the US, and in Sweet'N Low for tabletop use. It is more commonly found now in medications, cosmetics, and personal care products.
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Sources
- FDA on Saccharin History and Safety — FDA
- Cell study on gut microbiome and sweeteners 2022 — Cell
- EFSA Scientific Opinion on Saccharin (E 954) 2011 — EFSA
- Health Canada: Saccharin banned in Canada for food use — Health Canada
Our scores are never influenced by brands. Last updated 6/10/2026.