E961 · Sweeteners

Neotame

Moderate risk microbiomesweetenersynthetic

Aspartame derivative, 8000× sweeter than sugar.

Category: Sweeteners
Acceptable daily intake: 10 mg/kg body weight/day (EFSA)
Vegan: Yes
Vegetarian: Yes

What it is

E961 (Neotame) is a non-caloric artificial sweetener. It is chemically similar to aspartame (E951) but is drastically sweeter—ranging from 7,000 to 13,000 times sweeter than sucrose.

How it is used in food

Stable in baking.

Commonly found in

Diet soft drinks and cordials
Sugar-free chewing gum
Table-top sweeteners

Health and safety

Long-term data is simply thinner than older sweeteners.

Neotame is heavily scrutinized but considered safe by EFSA and the FDA. A key benefit of its chemical modification is that, unlike aspartame, it does not release dangerous levels of phenylalanine when digested, making it safe for individuals with phenylketonuria (PKU).

Potential gut microbiome disruption

general population · evidence: suspected

Cell and animal work has reported neotame affecting the gut epithelium and microbial balance. EFSA's 2025 re-evaluation assessed the full dataset and concluded there is no safety concern at permitted uses, so this remains a research signal rather than an established effect.

EFSA re-evaluation of neotame (E 961)

Doses are microscopic, and unlike aspartame it releases too little phenylalanine to need a PKU warning.

Regulatory status

Region	Status	Notes
Australia & New Zealand FSANZ	Permitted	Permitted under the FSANZ Food Standards Code.
European Union EFSA / European Commission	Permitted	Authorised for food use under EU regulations (Annex II).
United States FDA (Food and Drug Administration)	Permitted	Approved as a general-purpose sweetener.

Identification on labels

E-number: E961

Alternatives to this additive

E960a: Steviol glycosides from Stevia — A plant-derived, natural intense sweetener.

How it is made

Synthesised by chemically modifying aspartame (specifically, alkylating it with 3,3-dimethylbutyraldehyde).

Chemical Synthesis — Aspartame is chemically modified to increase its sweetness and heat stability.

Worth knowing

Aspartame re-engineered to be ~40× stronger.

Conclusion

E961 is a highly potent, modern artificial sweetener. Because it is so sweet, only microscopic amounts are needed to flavour a beverage, reducing overall chemical exposure compared to older sweeteners.

References

EFSA re-evaluation of neotame (E 961) — EFSA

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Entry last reviewed 2026-07-28.

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