Cyclamate is a low-calorie sweetener that is 30 times sweeter than table sugar. Discovered in 1937, it has been widely used as a tabletop sweetener, in sugar-free beverages and other low-calorie foods, particularly in combination with other low- and no-calerie sweeteners.

Products containing cyclamate as a sugar substitute include jellies, baked goods, soft drinks, chocolate, candies, breakfast cereals, salad dressing and toothpaste.

Health benefits:
With no calorie content, cyclamate is a helpful alternative for people trying to reduce their sugar or calorie intake as part of a low calorie diet. Many diet or light foods and beverages including soft drinks, dairy and baked goods are sweetened with cyclamate. Those managing diabetes have special requirements and find cyclamate helpful as a ingredient in a variety of diabetic foods

Assets:
Cyclamate is soluble in water and stable in heat and cold, which means it's ideal for most food formulations. It also has a long shelf life. When cyclamate is combined with other low calorie sweeteners - particularly saccharin, aspartame and acesulfame-K -the result is an improvement in the overall taste of foods and beverages containing the mixture.

Safety:
Over the past 50 years, organizations including the World Health Organization's Joint Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA), the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) have examined and studied cyclamate. Cyclamate is now approved for use in more than 100 countries including Europe, Canada, and Australia. During the 50 years of cyclamate use by millions of people, there have been no reported safety problems. JECFA has reviewed the scientific literature related to cyclamate and consistently determined that it is safe for human consumption. Cyclamate also has been approved by the SCF of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). A petition for the reapproval of cyclamate in the U.S. has been submitted for review by the FDA. The petition features extensive scientific evidence, including 75 studies, that demonstrates the safety of cyclamate for human use.

Market Trends
Increasingly, the end-user (product manufacturer) prefers to blend sweeteners. This is being done by combining intense (high-intensity) sweeteners with other intense sweeteners, as well as with sugars. Through these combinations, the user can take advantage of the sweetness synergy, enhance the overall product taste, reduce the quantity used and save on the cost of the formulation.