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Food additive · Sweetener

Cyclamate

E-number
E952

A high-intensity sweetener used in some European and Canadian products; it has been prohibited in US food since 1969.

  • Food additive
  • Non-nutritive sweetener
  • Ultra-processing marker
  • Expert review pending
Moderate concern Level 2 of 4 How concern levels work

Strong evidence of harm at high intake, emerging evidence of harm, or a common allergen or irritant. The concern level sets how many points cyclamate costs on a product’s receipt.

What the evidence says

  • Not permitted in food somewhereRegulatory

    Food containing cyclamate is deemed adulterated in the US (21 CFR 189.135). [1]

  • Heart or metabolic health (emerging)Emerging evidence

    WHO (2023) recommends against using non-sugar sweeteners to control body weight (conditional recommendation); US dietary guidelines advise limiting them. [2][3]

Evidence tiers say how sure the evidence is, separately from how much it matters. About evidence tiers.

Rules around the world

WhereStatusDetailsDateSource
United States Banned Prohibited from use in human food (21 CFR 189.135; order of October 21, 1969). Oct 21, 1969 [1]
European Union Permitted Permitted (E 952) with maximum levels. — [4]

“Banned” means explicitly prohibited or withdrawn after review; “not permitted” means never authorized there. We use each regulator’s own words.

Diets and allergens

Vegan
Yes
Vegetarian
Yes
Gluten-free
Yes

For the ingredient in general. Always check the package: a product’s own labels win.

Names GoodSwap recognizes on labels (7)
  • e952
  • cyclamate
  • cyclamic acid
  • sodium cyclamate
  • calcium cyclamate
  • sweetener sodium cyclamate
  • sweeteners sodium cyclamate

Sources

  1. 21 CFR 189.135 Cyclamate and its derivatives (substances prohibited from use in human food)

    Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR), U.S. Office of the Federal Register · Nov 22, 2016 · Law

    “Food containing any added or detectable level of cyclamate is deemed to be adulterated in violation of the act based upon an order published in the Federal Register of October 21, 1969 (34 FR 17063).”

    ecfr.gov

  2. WHO advises not to use non-sugar sweeteners for weight control in newly released guideline

    World Health Organization · May 15, 2023 · Agency assessment

    “The recommendation is based on the findings of a systematic review of the available evidence which suggests that use of NSS does not confer any long-term benefit in reducing body fat in adults or children.”

    who.int

  3. Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2025–2030

    U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and U.S. Department of Agriculture · January 2026 · Regulator

    “Limit foods and beverages that include artificial flavors, petroleum-based dyes, artificial preservatives, and low-calorie non-nutritive sweeteners.”

    cdn.realfood.gov

  4. Commission Regulation (EU) No 1129/2011 of 11 November 2011 amending Annex II to Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 by establishing a Union list of food additives

    European Union (Official Journal) · Nov 11, 2011 · Law

    “E 127 Erythrosine 200 only cocktail cherries and candied cherries”

    eur-lex.europa.eu