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E952 · Sweeteners

Cyclamates

Moderate risk artificial sweetenersweetener

Permitted in AU-NZ and EU. No evidence of harm at dietary intake.

Category
Sweeteners
Acceptable daily intake
7 mg/kg body weight/day (EFSA)
Vegan
Yes
Vegetarian
Yes

What it is

Cyclamate (E952) is a zero-calorie artificial sweetener, about 30 to 50 times sweeter than sugar. It is usually blended with Saccharin (E954) to mask their respective bitter aftertastes.

How it is used in food

Sweetener.

Commonly found in
  • Diet sodas (outside the US)
  • Tabletop artificial sweeteners (like Sweet'N Low in some countries)
  • Sugar-free chewing gum

Health and safety

Banned in the US since 1970 over (later disputed) rat-tumor findings; the EU permits it with strict limits.

Cyclamate has one of the most dramatic regulatory histories of any additive. In 1969, a study showed that a mixture of cyclamate and saccharin caused bladder cancer in rats. In response, the US FDA completely banned it in 1970.

Metabolic concerns

general population · evidence: suspected

Like other artificial sweeteners, the WHO advises against its long-term use for weight control due to potential links to type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

WHO advice on non-sugar sweeteners

History of controversy.

Regulatory status

RegionStatusNotes
Australia & New Zealand
FSANZ		 Permitted Permitted.
European Union
EFSA / European Commission		 Permitted Authorised for food use under EU regulations (Annex II).
United States
FDA (Food and Drug Administration)		 Banned Banned since 1970 due to early, since-debunked studies linking it to bladder cancer in rats.
“Banned”

Identification on labels

E-number
E952

Also printed asCyclamate · Sodium cyclamate

Alternatives to this additive

  • E955: Sucralose — A modern artificial sweetener that is globally approved.

How it is made

Synthesized by reacting cyclohexylamine with sulfamic acid or sulfur trioxide.

  1. Synthesis — Produced chemically from cyclohexylamine and sulfamic acid.

Worth knowing

Discovered in 1937 by a student who set his cigarette on lab powder and tasted sweetness.

Conclusion

Decades of follow-up research proved that the 1969 rat study was flawed and not applicable to humans. The EU, WHO, and over 100 other countries have since re-approved cyclamate as safe. However, the FDA has never lifted the ban, meaning E952 remains a fascinating example of regional divergence in food safety.

References

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Entry last reviewed 2026-07-28.

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