Cyclamates - Sweeteners that are here to stay

Though a first generation sweetener cyclamates still enjoy widespread usage especially in food and drink products and could be said to have seen off the challenge of the other newer alternative sweeteners marketed in the last 25 years or so. Cyclamates are liked by manufacturers because, although they in common with other non-nutritive sweeteners cannot replicate the texture, mouthfeel and bulk effects of sucrose, they are very useful in admixtures and bring excellent synergistic effects when used in conjunction with other sweeteners both nutritive and non-nutritive. Other advantages are their relatively low production cost, good ability to mask aftertastes and good quality of sweetness. They have survived the controversial 1970 FDA ban are now used throughout the European Union and in about 50 other non-EU countries though significantly not yet in the US. They are certainly here to stay.