New Sweeteners Gain Ground in Europe

Abstract

Europeans, like Americans, have little choice when it comes to artificial sweeteners. Saccharin, of course, is available. But cyclamates, although used in some countries, are banned in the U.K. Adoption of G. D. Searle & Co.'s aspartame still is somewhat limited in Europe. The situation is expected to change before long. The U.K. is moving toward legalizing three products—aspartame; acesulfame-K, made by West Germany's Hoechst; and thaumatin, a novel protein under development by Tate & Lyle, a leading U.K. sugar refiner. Other West European countries also are taking a close look at them. These compounds, like saccharin and the cyclamates, belong to a class known as intense sweeteners with a degree of sweetness many times greater than sucrose. They will go mainly into products for calorieconscious consumers—soft drinks, ice creams, desserts, and the like. Weight-watchers will add them to their coffee or tea. And they will find their way into medicines, mouthwashes, toothpastes, chewing ...