cyclamate
cyclamate

Cyclamate

Common names: Sodium cyclamate, Sweet’n Low, E952 (European food additive code).
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KIDSADVISORY SAFETY RATING
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Risky
Published by Jordana Tobelem, RD, LDN — Last Updated on Apr 16, 2025
Medically reviewed by Dr. William Lin, MD
Cyclamate is an artificial sweetener approximately 30-50 times sweeter than sucrose. Due to its high water solubility and heat stability, it is commonly used in various food products, including baked goods, beverages, and confections, to provide sweetness without added calories. Cyclamate is often combined with other sweeteners to enhance sweetness and mask aftertastes.[1]
In 1969, studies raised concerns about cyclamate's safety, leading to its ban in the United States due to potential carcinogenic effects. However, subsequent research has not conclusively linked cyclamate to cancer in humans, and it remains approved for use in over 130 countries. Consumers should be aware of the varying regulatory statuses and consume products containing cyclamate within established acceptable daily intake levels.[2]

Safety Overview

Regulatory Bodies

FDA (US)
In 1969, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) banned the use of cyclamate as a food additive due to concerns about its potential carcinogenicity. As of now, cyclamate remains prohibited in the United States.[3]
Health Canada
In Canada, cyclamate is approved for use as a tabletop sweetener and as a non-medicinal ingredient in drugs, including natural health products. However, it is not permitted as a food additive nor identified for use in food packaging materials.[4]
EFSA (Europe)
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has evaluated and approved cyclamate as a safe artificial sweetener within the European Union. It is assigned the food additive code E952 and is permitted for use in various food products.[5]
WHO (World Health Organization)
The Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) has assessed cyclamate and established an acceptable daily intake (ADI) of 0-11 mg per kilogram of body weight, indicating its safety when consumed within these limits.[6] While cyclamate remains banned in the U.S., it is considered safe by health authorities in Europe, Canada, and the WHO, where it is permitted within specific daily intake limits

FDA GRAS

U.S. Food and Drug Administration – Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS)
Current Status
Not Classified

EWG Rating

Environmental Working Group
EWG Rating: None
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More about Cyclamate

  • Beverages: Diet sodas, sugar-free juices, low-calorie drink mixes.
  • Baked Goods: Sugar-free cakes, low-calorie pastries, diabetic-friendly bread.
  • Confections: Sugar-free candies, chewing gums, diabetic chocolates.

Historical Use
Cyclamate was discovered in 1937 and introduced as a non-caloric artificial sweetener in the 1950s, gaining popularity as a sugar substitute in diet sodas and low-calorie foods.[3] However, its use was restricted in some countries, including the United States, after studies in the late 1960s suggested a potential link to bladder cancer in rodents.[7]
Current Exposure
Today, cyclamate remains approved in over 100 countries, including Canada and the European Union, where it is commonly found in diet beverages, sugar-free confectioneries, and tabletop sweeteners.[8] Despite its continued regulatory approval in many regions, the U.S. still bans its use in food, limiting consumer exposure in that market.[9]

Testicular Effects
Long-term studies in rodents have indicated potential testicular atrophy and impaired reproductive function at high dietary concentrations of cyclamate, specifically at 5-10% of their diet. However, these effects were observed under conditions of markedly reduced food intake, complicating the interpretation of cyclamate's direct impact.[1]
Carcinogenicity Concerns
Early studies suggested a possible association between cyclamate consumption and bladder cancer in rats, leading to its ban in some countries. Subsequent research, including long-term studies in non-human primates, has not demonstrated a clear carcinogenic risk to humans, and cyclamate remains approved in many regions.[10]
Metabolite Toxicity
Cyclamate can be metabolized by gut bacteria into cyclohexylamine, a compound that has shown some toxic effects in animal studies, including testicular atrophy and impaired fertility at high doses. The relevance of these findings to typical human consumption levels remains uncertain.[11]
Regulatory Status
Due to historical health concerns, cyclamate has been banned in the United States since 1969. However, it is approved for use in over 100 countries, including Canada and those in the European Union, where it is considered safe within established acceptable daily intake levels.[2] Although high doses of cyclamate have been linked to some reproductive toxicity in animal studies, these effects occurred at doses far higher than typical human consumption levels. Further research is needed to confirm any risks to humans.

Toxicological Studies
Research indicates that high doses of cyclamate can lead to the formation of cyclohexylamine, a metabolite associated with testicular atrophy and impaired reproductive function in rodents. These effects were observed at dietary concentrations of 5-10%, which are significantly higher than typical human consumption levels.[1]
Long-Term Safety
A 24-year study involving non-human primates administered sodium cyclamate at doses up to 500 mg/kg/day found no clear evidence of toxic or carcinogenic effects. These findings suggest that long-term consumption of cyclamate at levels relevant to human dietary exposure is unlikely to pose significant health risks.[10] Although cyclamate has been linked to testicular atrophy in animal studies at very high doses, long-term studies in primates and humans have not shown similar risks at typical dietary levels.

High-Risk Groups
Individuals with diabetes may be considered a high-risk group due to their potential increased consumption of artificial sweeteners like cyclamate. A study indicated that diabetic patients using saccharin and cyclamate mixtures had higher average body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference compared to non-users.[12]
Health Impacts
Research has shown that high doses of cyclamate can lead to the formation of cyclohexylamine, a metabolite associated with testicular atrophy and impaired reproductive function in rodents. However, these effects were observed at dietary concentrations of 5-10%, which are significantly higher than typical human consumption levels.[1]

Recommended Intake
The Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) has established an acceptable daily intake (ADI) for cyclamate of 0-11 mg per kilogram of body weight. In contrast, the European Commission's Scientific Committee on Food (SCF) has set a lower ADI of 7 mg/kg body weight. These ADIs represent the estimated amounts that can be consumed daily over a lifetime without appreciable health risk.[13][14]

General Safety Level
Cyclamate is widely used as an artificial sweetener in many countries and is generally considered safe for the majority of the population. However, some individuals may metabolize cyclamate to cyclohexylamine, a compound that has been associated with adverse effects in animal studies.[15]
Sensitive Individuals
There have been rare reports of photosensitivity reactions linked to cyclamate consumption, suggesting that certain individuals may experience allergic responses. A case documented in the Journal of the American Medical Association described a patient who developed photosensitivity attributed to cyclamate intake.[16]

FAQ

What is coumarin?

Coumarin is a naturally occurring compound found in certain plants, known for its sweet scent and potential anticoagulant properties.

What does coumarin smell like?

Coumarin has a sweet, vanilla-like scent with hints of freshly cut hay.

Is coumarin found in turmeric?

No, coumarin is not found in turmeric but is present in some cinnamon varieties and other plants.

What is coumarin used for?

Coumarin is used in perfumes, flavorings, and some medicinal applications, though it is restricted in food due to potential liver toxicity.

Does Saigon cinnamon have coumarin?

Yes, Saigon cinnamon contains high levels of coumarin compared to other cinnamon varieties.

References

  1. International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) 1999 Cyclamates IARC Monographs on the Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risks to Humans 73:267-307 Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK402042/ ↩︎
  2. National Cancer Institute (NCI) 2023 Artificial Sweeteners and Cancer NCI Fact Sheet Available at: https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/causes-prevention/risk/diet/artificial-sweeteners-fact-sheet ↩︎
  3. U.S. Food and Drug Administration 1980 Cyclamates Commissioners Decision Federal Register 45(181):61474-61501 Available at: https://www.fda.gov/files/food/published/Cyclamates-45FR61474-1980-09-16-%28PDF%29.pdf ↩︎
  4. Health Canada 2018 Sodium cyclamate and cyclohexylamine information sheet Available at: https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/chemical-substances/fact-sheets/chemicals-glance/sodium-cyclamate-cyclohexylamine.html ↩︎
  5. European Food Safety Authority n.d. Sweeteners Available at: https://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/topics/topic/sweeteners ↩︎
  6. World Health Organization 2009 Evaluation of Certain Food Additives WHO Technical Report Series 956 Available at: https://iris.who.int/bitstream/handle/10665/44266/WHO_TRS_956_eng.pdf?sequence=1 ↩︎
  7. Sylvetsky A. C. & Rother K. I. 2016 Trends in the consumption of low-calorie sweeteners Physiology & Behavior 164(Pt B):446-450 Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5578610/ ↩︎
  8. Mattes R. D. & Popkin B. M. 2009 Nonnutritive sweetener consumption in humans effects on appetite and food intake and their putative mechanisms The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 89(1):1-14 Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2650084/ ↩︎
  9. European Commission 2000 Revised Opinion on Cyclamic Acid and Its Sodium and Calcium Salts Available at: https://food.ec.europa.eu/document/download/988ec527-8bd1-4423-9cdf-24bf4c793697_en ↩︎
  10. Takayama S. Renwick A. G. Johansson S. L. Thorgeirsson U. P. Tsutsumi M. & Dalgard D. W. 2000 Long-term toxicity and carcinogenicity study of cyclamate in nonhuman primates Toxicological Sciences 53(1):33-39 Available at: https://academic.oup.com/toxsci/article/53/1/33/1673343 ↩︎
  11. Government of Canada 2018 Screening Assessment Sodium Cyclamate and Cyclohexylamine Available at: https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/services/evaluating-existing-substances/screening-assessment-sodium-cyclamate-cyclohexylamine.html ↩︎
  12. Hasan H.M. Alkass S.Y. & de Oliveira D.S.P. 2017 Impact of Long-Term Cyclamate and Saccharin Consumption on Biochemical Parameters in Healthy Individuals and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Patients Medicina (Kaunas) 59(4):698 Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10146554/ ↩︎
  13. World Health Organization (WHO) n.d. Cyclamic acid Available at: https://apps.who.int/food-additives-contaminants-jecfa-database/chemical.aspx?chemID=995 ↩︎
  14. European Commission 2021 Acceptable daily intake of sweeteners in the EU Available at: https://knowledge4policy.ec.europa.eu/health-promotion-knowledge-gateway/sugars-sweeteners-7_en ↩︎
  15. Renwick A. G. Thompson J. P. OShaughnessy M. & Walter E. J. 2004 The metabolism of cyclamate to cyclohexylamine in humans during long-term administration Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology 196(3):367-380 Available at: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15094307/ ↩︎
  16. Lamberg S. I. 1967 A New Photosensitizer The Artificial Sweetener Cyclamate Journal of the American Medical Association 210(10):747-750 Available at: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/article-abstract/335308 ↩︎

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