Thursday, January 12, 2012

Discovery of Acesulfame potassium

Acesulfame potassium entered the food world in 1967. Karl Clauss and H. Jensen of Hoechst AG in Frankfurt, Germany, reacted 2-butene and fluorosulfonyl isocyanate in 1967 to produce a new compound with a novel ring system.

Clauss accidently spilled some on his finger, which he then licked as he reached for a piece of paper.

The substance was found to have a sweet taste. The generic name initially chosen, acetosulfam, was change to acesulfame potassium salt.

Approved for use in the United States in 1988, acesulfame potassium is marketed under the brand name Sunette. The brand name Sweet One when sold as a table top sweetener. Later approved for use in beverages in 1998.

It was approved for use in Europe in 1983 and used in more than 3000 products in the world. Approval for use in confections was granted by FDA in 1993.
Discovery of Acesulfame potassium

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