Is Saccharin Safe During Pregnancy?
The facts: Saccharin is banned in 1 country/region (including Canada (banned for food use; permitted in medications only)), though the FDA still allows it in the US. We can't tell you whether it's safe for your pregnancy — that's a conversation for your OB-GYN or midwife. What we can do is show you the regulatory facts and flag Saccharin on any product's label so you can decide with your provider. Commonly found in: Sweet'N Low (tabletop pink packets), Some diet beverages (historically), Certain medications.
TL;DR: Saccharin is banned in the EU and allowed in the US. Here's what to know if you're pregnant.
Saccharin: regulatory status at a glance
| EU status | Banned |
|---|---|
| US status | Allowed |
| Risk level (regulatory) | — |
| 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.
What regulators have flagged about Saccharin
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.
For educational use only. This page summarizes the regulatory status of Saccharin with citations to the primary sources below. It is not medical advice and is not pregnancy-specific medical guidance. Consult your OB-GYN or midwife for decisions about your pregnancy.
Pregnancy-conscious swaps free from Saccharin →
Audited products that don't contain Saccharin.
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Saccharin and pregnancy: common questions
Is Saccharin banned anywhere?
Yes. Saccharin is banned in Canada (banned for food use; permitted in medications only); restricted in European Union (ADI 5 mg/kg body weight; must be labeled), United Kingdom, Australia. The FDA still allows it in the US.
Should I avoid Saccharin during pregnancy?
That's a decision for you and your OB-GYN or midwife — we don't give medical advice. What we can tell you is the regulatory status above. Many people choose to limit additives during pregnancy out of caution; bring this page and its sources to your next appointment.
What foods contain Saccharin?
Commonly found in Sweet'N Low (tabletop pink packets), Some diet beverages (historically), Certain medications, Some mouthwashes, Some cosmetics and personal care products, Some artificially sweetened foods. Scan any product's barcode to check its label for Saccharin.
What can I use instead of Saccharin?
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. See the pregnancy-conscious swaps below.
Scan any product's barcode and instantly see if it contains Saccharin or other ingredients restricted overseas.
Scan a product free →Other ingredients to check during pregnancy
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.