Sodium saccharin (benzoic sulfimide) is an artificial sweetener with effectively no food energy that is about 300–400 times as sweet as sucrose but has a bitter or metallic aftertaste, especially at high concentrations. Leading global health authorities such as the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), FAO/WHO Joint Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA), U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Food Standards … Toothpaste Ingredients. Saccharin, was first discovered and used in 1879, before the current food additive approval process came into effect in 1958. Saccharin is one of 8 low- and no-calorie sweeteners permitted by the FDA for use in the US food supply. History of saccharin. Saccharin was linked to cancer in clinical studies in the 1970s, but it continues to be used as a food and hygiene product additive, including for use in sweetening toothpaste. Sugar substitutes are chemical or plant-based substances used to sweeten or enhance the flavor of foods and drinks. Even then, it was a boon to food manufacturers and consumers, especially those with diabetes, who could use the new ingredient to sweeten their foods and beverages without the calories or glucose reaction associated with many sweeteners. Discovered in 1879, saccharin has been used commercially to sweeten foods and beverages since the turn of the twentieth century. Saccharin was discovered in 1879 by researchers at Johns Hopkins University. It is absorbed slowly, not metabolized, rapidly excreted unchanged by the kidneys, highly stable with a long shelf-life, suitable for cooking and baking, does not promote tooth decay, and is suitable for diabetics. Applications. Carcinogenic presence in saccharin is still unproven, and it is widely used by the food industry to sweeten candy, sodas, medicines, toothpaste, etc. Each of the 8 have been rigorously tested and reviewed. The sweet taste of saccharin was discovered accidentally by Falberg at lunch. It is used to sweeten products such as drinks, candies, cookies, and … Scientific American is the essential guide to the most awe-inspiring advances in science and technology, explaining how they change our understanding of the world and shape our lives. You may have heard them called “artificial sweeteners” or “non-caloric sweeteners.” They can be used as a tabletop sweetener (for example, to sweeten a glass of iced tea) and/or as an ingredient in processed foods and drinks. The history of saccharin began in 1879 when Russian immigrant Constantine Falberg operated a laboratory of the American professor Rams. Who says it’s safe? Saccharin, a petroleum-based sugar substitute, is used in soft drinks, diet food and personal hygiene products such as lip balm and toothpaste.