My diet:

E954 Saccharin

E954SweetenersOrigin: Lab-made
Get a personal answer

Pick your family’s diets in the bar above.

Every diet

VeganYes
Gluten-freeYes
HalalYes
KosherYes
KetoYes

Zero calories; packets contain dextrose, which adds a little carb.

Low-FODMAPYes
The short answer
Saccharin (E954) is the oldest zero-calorie sweetener, best known in pink packets. Its 1970s cancer scare came from rat studies that don't apply to people, and the US warning label was dropped in 2000. It's approved in the US, EU and Canada.
Use in moderation

Safe in small amounts; may bother some people or raise blood sugar.

E-numberE954
Comes fromLab-made
What it doesSweeteners
Glycemic index0
Daily limit9 mg/kg
Also calledSaccharin, Sodium saccharin

Rules by country

🇺🇸 US FDAApproved with limits
🇪🇺 European UnionApproved with limits
🇨🇦 Health CanadaApproved with limits
CaliforniaRestrictedRemoved from California's Proposition 65 cancer list in 2001

Allowed in the US with limits. Its old cancer warning label was repealed in 2000, the same year the US National Toxicology Program dropped it from its carcinogen list. EFSA re-evaluated it in 2024 and raised its daily limit from 5 to 9 mg per kg of body weight. Canada allowed it back in foods in 2014.

How much is too much? (Acceptable Daily Intake)

630 mgper day is the safe upper limit

Based on 9 mg per kg of body weight (EFSA / JECFA). A 20 kg (44 lb) child: 180 mg a day.

What is it?

Saccharin is 300 to 500 times sweeter than sugar and passes through the body unchanged. Many people notice a bitter or metallic aftertaste, so it's often blended with other sweeteners.

Where it comes from: Made in a factory from petroleum-derived chemicals. It was discovered by accident in 1879.

Why it’s in food

  • Sweetens without calories
  • Cheap and very stable in storage
  • Used in tabletop packets and fountain drinks

Often found in

Tabletop sweetener packetsDiet fountain sodaToothpaste and mouthwashSugar-free candyChewable medicines

Also listed as: Saccharin, Sodium saccharin, Calcium saccharin, Sweet'N Low, Sugar Twin

Health & gut impact

Cancer scareBenefit

Bladder tumors seen in male rats come from a process that doesn't happen in humans, so it was removed from the US carcinogen list.

US National Toxicology Program, 9th Report on Carcinogens (2000)

Weight controlConcern

The WHO advises against relying on sweeteners for weight loss.

WHO Guideline on Non-sugar Sweeteners (2023)

What can I use instead?

Stevia

Ratio: Follow package

Best for: Coffee and tea

Monk fruit

Ratio: Follow package

Best for: Drinks and baking

Related

More sweeteners:

Acesulfame Potassium (Ace-K) E950Acesulfame potassium (Ace-K, E950) is a zero-calorie sweetener approved in the US, EU and Canada. EFSA re-checked it in 2025 and raised its daily limit. It's usually paired with sucralose or aspartame to hide a slightly bitter aftertaste.Use in moderationAlluloseAllulose is a "rare sugar" that tastes like sugar but has almost no calories and doesn't raise blood sugar. It's keto-friendly and browns like real sugar in baking.Generally safeAspartame E951Aspartame (E951) is a zero-calorie sweetener in diet soda. It's approved, but WHO's cancer agency called it "possibly carcinogenic" in 2023, and people with PKU must avoid it.Use in moderationErythritol E968Erythritol (E968) is a zero-calorie sugar alcohol popular in keto foods. A 2023 study linked high blood levels to heart risk, and large amounts can upset your stomach.Use in moderation

Common questions

Is Saccharin safe?

Use in moderation (60/100). Allowed in the US with limits. Its old cancer warning label was repealed in 2000, the same year the US National Toxicology Program dropped it from its carcinogen list. EFSA re-evaluated it in 2024 and raised its daily limit from 5 to 9 mg per kg of body weight. Canada allowed it back in foods in 2014.

Is Saccharin vegan?

Yes.

Is Saccharin gluten-free?

Yes.

Does saccharin cause cancer?

Not as far as current evidence shows. The rat bladder tumors behind the 1970s warning don't apply to humans, and the US removed both the warning label and its carcinogen listing in 2000.

Spotted a mistake on this page? Report it ›

Scientific sources & regulatory citations
  • 21 CFR 180.37 (US FDA)
  • EFSA OpenFoodTox: E954
  • US National Toxicology Program, 9th Report on Carcinogens (2000)
  • WHO Guideline on Non-sugar Sweeteners (2023)

Last checked against FDA, EFSA and Health Canada records: October 31, 2026 · INS 954 · CAS 81-07-2