Food additive · Sweetener
Sucralose
- E-number
- E955
- CAS
- 56038-13-2
A chlorinated high-intensity sweetener about 600 times sweeter than sugar, used in diet drinks, protein products and baked goods.
- Food additive
- Non-nutritive sweetener
- Ultra-processing marker
- Expert review pending
Concern level
Strong evidence of harm at high intake, emerging evidence of harm, or a common allergen or irritant. The concern level sets how many points sucralose costs on a product’s receipt.
What the evidence says
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Gut microbiome (emerging)Emerging evidence
In a 2022 randomized study, sucralose and saccharin altered the gut microbiome and impaired glucose responses in some people; a 2023 lab study raised questions about its by-product sucralose-6-acetate. [1][2]
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Low concernStrong evidence
EFSA (2026) concluded sucralose remains safe at currently authorized uses (ADI 15 mg/kg body weight) but could not confirm safety for use in baking at high temperatures. [3]
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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. [4][5]
Evidence tiers say how sure the evidence is, separately from how much it matters. About evidence tiers.
Rules around the world
| Where | Status | Details | Date | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | Permitted | Permitted as a sweetener (21 CFR 172.831). | — | [6] |
| European Union | Permitted | Permitted (E 955); re-evaluated by EFSA in 2026. | — | [3] |
| Canada | Permitted | On Health Canada's List of Permitted Sweeteners. | — | [7] |
“Banned” means explicitly prohibited or withdrawn after review; “not permitted” means never authorized there. We use each regulator’s own words.
Popular products that list sucralose
772 of the 17,000 most-scanned products in the US with a GoodSwap page list sucralose. The 12 most scanned:
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High Quality Protein Fairlife · 11.5 fl oz (340 mL) Score 84 out of 100 Excellent -
Core Power High Protein Milk Shake Chocolate Fairlife · 14 oz Score 46 out of 100 Okay -
CORE POWER High Protein Milk Shake Chocolate Rlife · 414 mL Score 51 out of 100 Okay -
Chocolate Reduced Fat Ultra-filtered Milk Fairlife · 52 fl oz Score 30 out of 100 Poor -
Carb Balance Flour Tortilla Wraps Mission · 340 g Score 46 out of 100 Okay -
Zero Ultra Monster Energy · 1 can (16 oz) Score 51 out of 100 Okay -
High Protein Milkshake Vanilla Core Power · 14 oz Score 81 out of 100 Excellent -
Nufri Chocolate Milk Shake Nurri Score 56 out of 100 Okay -
Chocolate Shake Premier Protein · 11 fl oz (325 mL) Score 81 out of 100 Excellent -
Premier Protein Vanilla Shake Premier Protein · 11 oz Score 40 out of 100 Okay -
Sparkling Orange Celsius · 12 fl oz (355 mL) Score 66 out of 100 Good -
Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Quest · 60 g Score 48 out of 100 Okay
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 (19)
- e955
- splenda
- sucralose
- sweetener e955
- sucralose sweetener
- sweetener sucralose
- sucralose edulcorant
- sucralose sweeteners
- sweeteners sucralose
- sucralose and acesulfame k
- sucralose acesulfame potassium
- sucralose artificial sweetener
- sucralose a non caloric sweetener
- sucralose an artificial sweetener
- sucralose non nutritive sweetener
- sucralose and acesulfame potassium
- sucralose non nutritive sweeteners
- sucralose a non nutritive sweetener
- sweeteners sucralose and acesulfame k
Sources
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Personalized microbiome-driven effects of non-nutritive sweeteners on human glucose tolerance
“As groups, each administered NNS distinctly altered stool and oral microbiome and plasma metabolome, whereas saccharin and sucralose significantly impaired glycemic responses.”
doi.org
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“Sucralose-6-acetate significantly increased the expression of genes associated with inflammation, oxidative stress, and cancer”
doi.org
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“EFSA’s experts concluded that the sweetener sucralose (E 955) continues to be safe for consumers for its currently authorised uses as a food additive.”
efsa.europa.eu
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WHO advises not to use non-sugar sweeteners for weight control in newly released guideline
“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
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Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2025–2030
“Limit foods and beverages that include artificial flavors, petroleum-based dyes, artificial preservatives, and low-calorie non-nutritive sweeteners.”
cdn.realfood.gov
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ecfr.gov
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9. List of Permitted Sweeteners (Lists of Permitted Food Additives)
“A.3 Aspartame n/a (a) Breakfast cereals (a) Sweetener (a) 5,000 ppm n/a”
canada.ca