Low-calorie sweeteners in food and food supplements on the Italian market

Abstract

This study determines the occurrence and concentration levels of artificial low-calorie sweeteners (LCSs) in food and food supplements on the Italian market. The analysed sample set (290 samples) was representative of the Italian market and comprised of beverages, jams, ketchups, confectionery, dairy products, table-top sweeteners and food supplements. All samples were analysed via UPLC-MS/MS. The method was in-house validated for the analysis of seven LCSs (aspartame, acesulfame-K, saccharin, sucralose, cyclamate, neotame and neohesperidin dihydrochalcone) in food and for five LCSs (aspartame, acesulfame-K, saccharin, cyclamate and sucralose) in food supplements. Except for cyclamate in one beverage which exceeded the maximum level (ML) with 13%, all concentrations measured in food were around or below the ML. In food supplements, 40 of the 52 samples (77%) were found to be above the ML, with exceedances of up to 200% of the ML.

Keywords:

• sweeteners
• Italian market
• food
• food supplements
• occurrence
• aspartame
• acesulfame-K
• saccharin
• sucralose
• cyclamate
• neotame
• neohesperidin dihydrochalcone

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank Jean-Yves Michelet and Marianne Van den Bergh for their assistance in the lab, Celine Vanhee for her insights during writing and formatting of the article and the CRA-NUT group: Aida Turrini (scientific responsible); Lorenza Mistura; Laura D’Addezio, Giovina Catasta, Stefania Sette, Marika Ferrari, Raffaela Piccinelli for the sampling.

Additional information

Funding

This study was funded by the International Sweetener Association (ISA), who had no involvement in the design and realisation of the study.