Sweeteners
Neotame
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
- neotame
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
Neotame is a synthetic, non-caloric sweetener that is far sweeter than sugar, roughly 7,000 to 13,000 times sweeter by weight. It is chemically related to aspartame but modified so the body handles it differently, and because so little is needed, it adds effectively no calories. It is used to sweeten a range of sugar-free and reduced-sugar products.
Assessment
Why it is flagged
Neotame was approved by the FDA in 2002 and by EFSA, which set an acceptable daily intake in its 2007 evaluation, and both continue to permit it. Unlike aspartame, it is broken down in a way that produces only trace phenylalanine, so it does not require the phenylketonuria warning. Long-term human data on neotame is thinner than for older sweeteners simply because it is used less, and some newer laboratory research has raised questions about effects on the gut lining that are early and not established in people. Clear Label lists neotame at a higher severity mainly because the long-term picture is less studied and because some users choose to track how artificial sweeteners line up with headaches, digestion, or cravings in their own logs. These are correlations to test, not diagnoses.
In the aisle
Where it commonly shows up
- Sugar-free and diet beverages
- Sugar-free chewing gum
- Tabletop sweetener blends
- Reduced-sugar baked goods
- Sugar-free flavored waters and drink mixes
- Some sugar-free dairy products
Practical
Reading the label
Neotame is usually named outright in US ingredient lists and appears as E961 in the EU. It is sometimes blended with other sweeteners, so it can sit next to sucralose, acesulfame potassium, or aspartame on the same label.
Alternatives
If you want to avoid it
Some people who want fewer artificial sweeteners choose unsweetened drinks or products sweetened with stevia or monk fruit, which Clear Label tracks as separate lower-severity flags. Plain water, coffee, or tea without sweetener avoids the question entirely.
FAQ
Common questions
Is neotame the same as aspartame?
They are chemically related, but neotame is modified so the body produces only trace phenylalanine from it. That is why neotame does not carry the phenylketonuria warning that aspartame does.
Is neotame banned anywhere?
No major market has banned neotame as of 2026. The FDA approved it in 2002 and EFSA permits it with a set acceptable daily intake.
Why is it flagged at high severity?
Long-term human data on neotame is more limited than for widely studied sweeteners, and some early laboratory work has raised questions not yet confirmed in people. Clear Label treats it as a pattern worth tracking in your own logs rather than a settled harm.
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.