Cyclamates
E952
E952, INS 952(i), INS 952(ii), INS 952(iv), cyclamates, cyclamate, cyclamic acid, cyclohexylsulfamic acid, sodium cyclamate, calcium cyclamate, ciclamato, ácido ciclámico
What it is
Cyclamates are synthetic sweeteners based on cyclamic acid and its calcium and sodium salts. Codex identifies cyclamic acid as INS 952(i), calcium cyclamate as INS 952(ii) and sodium cyclamate as INS 952(iv); they are about 30–40 times sweeter than sugar.
Why BOTIA flags it
Cyclamates are about 30–40 times sweeter than sugar, so a small amount can provide a lot of sweetness — and the ingredient list cannot show how much was used. Part of an ingested dose can be converted by intestinal bacteria into cyclohexylamine; conversion varies widely between people, and that metabolite was the basis for JECFA's ADI of 0–11 mg/kg body weight, expressed as cyclamic acid. Codex has food-use provisions for cyclamates in specified categories, while the United States prohibits them in food, so legal status depends on the market.
BOTIA CAN
- Detect E952, the Codex INS 952 identifiers, cyclamic acid, sodium cyclamate and calcium cyclamate when explicitly declared.
- Explain their sweetening function, conversion to cyclohexylamine, the JECFA acceptable daily intake and jurisdiction-specific food-use status.
BOTIA CANNOT
- Determine how much cyclamate is present from the ingredient declaration alone.
- Determine how much cyclamate a particular person's intestinal bacteria would convert to cyclohexylamine.