Sucralose
E955
E955, INS 955, sucralose, 4,1',6'-trichlorogalactosucrose, sucralosa
What it is
Sucralose (INS 955 / E955) is a high-intensity sweetener made from sucrose by replacing three hydroxyl groups with chlorine atoms. It is about 600 times sweeter than sugar, so only a very small amount is needed to provide intense sweetness.
Why BOTIA flags it
Sucralose is about 600 times sweeter than sugar, so a tiny amount can provide intense sweetness — and the ingredient list cannot show how much was used. JECFA set an ADI of 0–15 mg/kg body weight, and EFSA confirmed in 2026 that currently authorised uses are considered safe. The remaining question concerns heat: under prolonged high-temperature baking, chlorinated compounds may form, and EFSA did not confirm the safety of that proposed extended use.
BOTIA CAN
- Detect E955, INS 955, sucralose and its declared chemical synonym on an ingredient label.
- Explain its high-intensity sweetening function, the JECFA acceptable daily intake and the separate high-temperature processing question identified by EFSA.
BOTIA CANNOT
- Determine how much sucralose is present from the ingredient declaration alone.
- Determine from the label whether the sucralose underwent prolonged high-temperature conditions or whether chlorinated degradation products formed.