Saccharin
E954
E954, INS 954, INS 954(i), INS 954(ii), INS 954(iii), INS 954(iv), saccharin, sodium saccharin, calcium saccharin, potassium saccharin, sacarina, sacarina sódica, sacarina cálcica, sacarina potásica
What it is
Saccharin and its sodium, calcium and potassium salts are high-intensity sweeteners. Codex identifies saccharin as INS 954(i), calcium saccharin as INS 954(ii), potassium saccharin as INS 954(iii) and sodium saccharin as INS 954(iv).
Why BOTIA flags it
Saccharin is about 300 times sweeter than sugar, so a very small amount does the work — and the label cannot show how much. It is not metabolised and is excreted largely unchanged. JECFA set a group ADI of 0–5 mg/kg body weight for saccharin and its calcium, potassium and sodium salts, and EFSA raised its own limit from 5 to 9 mg/kg body weight in 2024 after re-evaluation.
BOTIA CAN
- Detect E954, the Codex INS 954 identifiers, saccharin and its sodium, calcium and potassium salts when explicitly declared.
- Explain its high-intensity sweetening function, lack of metabolism, largely unchanged excretion and the JECFA and EFSA acceptable daily intakes.
BOTIA CANNOT
- Determine how much saccharin is present from the ingredient declaration alone.
- Calculate a person's total daily saccharin exposure or individual response from a single product label.