Advantame
E969
E969, INS 969, advantame, high-intensity sweetener E969, non-nutritive sweetener advantame
What it is
Advantame (INS 969 / E969) is a high-intensity sweetener synthesised using aspartame as a starting material. Codex lists it as a sweetener and flavour enhancer, and it is around 20,000 times sweeter than sugar.
Why BOTIA flags it
Advantame is around 20,000 times sweeter than sugar, so what ends up in food is measured in milligrams — and the ingredient list cannot show how much was used. It is derived from aspartame, but JECFA found that the phenylalanine formed from normal use is insignificant even for people with phenylketonuria; EU labelling rules do not apply the specific phenylalanine warning required for aspartame to advantame. JECFA set an ADI of 0–5 mg/kg body weight.
BOTIA CAN
- Detect E969, INS 969 and advantame when explicitly declared on the label.
- Explain its extreme sweetness, the JECFA phenylalanine assessment, the PKU labelling distinction and the JECFA acceptable daily intake.
BOTIA CANNOT
- Determine how many milligrams of advantame are present from the ingredient declaration alone.
- Determine total daily exposure or whether a particular use complies with a market-specific maximum level without knowing the amount and jurisdiction.