Sweeteners
Alitame
Definition
What it is
Artificial sweetener: non-caloric synthetic sweetener with contested long-term health effects; IARC classified aspartame as 'possibly carcinogenic' in 2023.
On the label
How it appears on labels
- alitame
Regulation
Regulatory status
No bans or restrictions are recorded for this ingredient in the jurisdictions clearlabel tracks (US, EU, UK, Canada, Japan, Australia/NZ, Brazil).
Explainer
In plain language
Alitame is an artificial sweetener made from two amino acids, roughly 2,000 times sweeter than table sugar. It was developed as a high-intensity sweetener but is not approved for use in the United States, and it was never widely adopted worldwide. Because it is so intensely sweet, only trace amounts would be needed to sweeten a product.
Assessment
Why it is flagged
Alitame is one of the least commonly used artificial sweeteners, and it has never received FDA approval for use in the US, so American shoppers are very unlikely to encounter it. Where it was reviewed, questions were raised about the identity and safety of some of its breakdown products, which is part of why it did not gain broad approval. The 2023 IARC review that classified aspartame as possibly carcinogenic addressed aspartame specifically, not alitame. Because real-world exposure is so limited and the published human evidence is thin, most of the picture rests on regulatory review rather than large studies. Clear Label flags it alongside other artificial sweeteners for transparency, though in practice it will rarely appear on labels you scan.
In the aisle
Where it commonly shows up
- Rarely used in current products
- Occasional imported sweetened goods
- Historical or discontinued tabletop sweeteners
Practical
Reading the label
Alitame would be listed by name where used, but it is uncommon and not approved in the US, so you are unlikely to see it on American labels. If you find it, the product is most likely imported.
FAQ
Common questions
Is alitame approved in the United States?
No. Alitame has not been approved by the FDA for use in food in the US. It saw limited approval and use in a small number of other countries.
Why is alitame rarely used?
It never gained broad regulatory approval, in part due to questions raised during review about some of its breakdown products, and other sweeteners were already established. As a result it is very uncommon today.
Is alitame related to aspartame?
Both are sweeteners built from amino acids, but they are different compounds. The 2023 IARC possibly carcinogenic classification applied to aspartame, not to alitame.
Citations
Sources
Citation
Primary reference
About this page: the definition, label names, severity, and regulatory chips come from the clearlabel ingredient taxonomy, the same data the scanner uses to score products. Research summaries describe associations reported in published studies, not diagnoses; individual responses vary. Scan any product with clearlabel to see which of its ingredients carry flags.