Constructed with two amino acids, L-aspartic acid and L-phenylalanine, coupled with an additional 3, 3-dimethylbutyl group, Neotame boasts a sweetness level that surpasses sugar by 7,000–13,000 times and aspartame by 30–60 times. Providing zero calories, it imparts a pure, sweet, sugar-like taste free from undesirable flavor characteristics. Due to their classification as intense sweeteners, both neotame and aspartame demand minimal quantities to achieve the desired level of sweetness in food products.
Thanks to its versatility, Neotame proves suitable for an extensive array of beverages and foods, whether used on its own or blended with other high-intensity or carbohydrate sweeteners. The incorporation of a t-butyl group into the free amine group of aspartic acid sets neotame apart, rendering it an attractive choice for food and beverage manufacturers. It delivers the sweetness of sugar without the metallic aftertaste, and its usage requires only a fraction of the amount compared to alternative sugar substitutes.
Neotame received FDA approval in 2002 as a general-purpose sweetener, with the exception of its use in meat and poultry. Moreover, it holds licenses as a food additive E 961 in the European Union since January 2010 and in Australia since as early as 2001.
Neotame: Intense Sweetener Overview
