Cyclamates
Cyclamates are artificial sweeteners first synthesized in 1937 and are approximately fifty times sweeter than sugar while containing no calories. They gained popularity in the United States during the 1950s and became widely used as sugar substitutes in various products, including soft drinks, tabletop sweeteners, and diet foods, particularly in the early 1960s amid growing concerns over obesity. However, following studies in 1966 that suggested a potential link between cyclamates and bladder cancer in laboratory animals, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) responded by banning cyclamates from food products in 1969, despite some research failing to establish a strong connection between cyclamates and cancer. By the 1980s, the emergence of alternative low-calorie sweeteners like aspartame further reduced the demand for cyclamates. Today, cyclamates remain a topic of interest, particularly in discussions around artificial sweeteners and their health implications. As such, they represent a significant chapter in the history of food additives and dietary choices.
Subject Terms
Cyclamates
Artificial sweetener used as a sugar substitute. Possible links between cyclamates and cancer led to a ban on cyclamates in many countries, including the United States.
Origins and History
Cyclamates were first synthesized in 1937. They are about fifty times sweeter than sugar and contain no calories. In 1950, products containing cyclamates became available in the United States.
In the early 1960’s, recognition of the adverse health effects of obesity led to widespread use of cyclamates as sugar substitutes. Although the evidence was minimal that the modest decrease in calorie consumption obtained by using such substitutes would result in weight loss in most individuals, large numbers of soft drinks, tabletop sweeteners, and diet foods containing cyclamates soon appeared on the market.
In 1966, researchers found that cyclamates can break down in the body. A short time later, two studies appeared indicating increased levels of bladder cancer in mice or rats fed high doses of cyclamates. Although other researchers found no link between cyclamates and cancer, concerns about possible health effects led the Food and Drug Administration to place a total ban on cyclamates in food products in 1969.
Subsequent Events
Additional laboratory studies have failed to show a strong link between cyclamates and cancer. The development of alternative low-calorie sweeteners (such as aspartame) in the 1980’s has removed the need for cyclamate.
Additional Information
A discussion of cyclamates can be found in Sweet Talk: Media Coverage of Artificial Sweeteners (1986), by Philip Lawler.