FDA approves marketing of new artificial sweetener

<br>WASHINGTON (AP) _ Neotame, a nonnutritive sweetener said to be 7,000 to 13,000 times sweeter than sugar, has been approved for marketing as an additive in candies, soft drinks and some other products,

Friday, July 5th 2002, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

WASHINGTON (AP) _ Neotame, a nonnutritive sweetener said to be 7,000 to 13,000 times sweeter than sugar, has been approved for marketing as an additive in candies, soft drinks and some other products, the Food and Drug Administration announced Friday.

The FDA said that neotame is a white crystalline powder that dissolves in water and can be used as a mealtime sweetener or added to recipes.

It has been approved for use in baked goods, nonalcoholic beverages, chewing gum, confections, frozen desserts, gelatins and puddings, jams, jellies, fruit, juices, toppings and syrups.

Neotame was approved after the FDA reviewed more than 113 animal and human studies, some of which were designed to detect any cancer-causing, reproductive or neurological effects. The agency said it concluded from the studies that neotame was safe for human consumption.

Neotame is manufactured by NutraSweet Co. of Mount Prospect, Ill.