E952 / Glazing agents, gases & sweeteners
Cyclamic acid, calcium cyclamate, sodium cyclamate
Safety in brief
Better avoided
Recorded EatMatrix rating, not a new clinical review. The amount, your sensitivities and country rules still matter.
- Watch for
- No allergen or sensitivity is recorded for this ingredient here. Check the whole product label; this is not an allergen-free guarantee.
- Our advice
- Read the whole food label and consider how often you eat the product. A name or E number does not tell you the amount, and an ingredient rating cannot assess the entire food.
What it is
Cyclamic acid and its calcium and sodium salts (cyclamates) are calorie-free artificial sweeteners about 30-50 times sweeter than sugar. They are heat-stable and often blended with other sweeteners like saccharin. Cyclamates are approved for use in the EU and many other countries, but they have been banned in the United States since 1970 over cancer concerns raised in animal studies; later research has not confirmed a risk in humans, and EFSA has set an acceptable daily intake for continued use where permitted.
Also appears on labels as: Cyclamic acid, Cyclamate, Calcium cyclamate, Sodium cyclamate, Cyclohexylsulfamic acid, Cyclohexylsulphamic acid, Cyclohexylsulfamate, Cyclohexylsulphamate, Calcium salt of cyclamic acid, Sodium salt of cyclamic acid, NaC6H12SO3N, C6H13NO3SNa.
Dietary information
- Vegan
- Yes
- Halal
- Yes
- Gluten-free
- Yes
- Allergens
- None recorded
Recorded ingredient information. Check the product label or certification: sources, other ingredients and cross-contact can vary.
Research & body effects
Health notes from our ingredient record
- Banned in the United States since 1970 due to early animal-study cancer concerns; approved in the EU and elsewhere with an EFSA acceptable daily intake.
- Some individuals convert cyclamate to cyclohexylamine in the gut, a metabolite of uncertain long-term significance that has drawn regulatory scrutiny.
Country rules
Country checks for E952
Permission depends on the market, type of food, amount and conditions. A scientific opinion or an E-number alone does not establish a legal use. These checks are separate from the stored EatMatrix rating.
Compare all eight markets and their sources
| Market | What is checked |
|---|---|
| European Union | Regulation (EC) 1333/2008, Annex II Part B, version , contains the exact code E952: Cyclamates. Listing alone does not allow every food use. Part E food categories, limits, specifications and applicable later acts still need a product-specific check. Source read: . |
| Great Britain | The FSA register record for E952 (Cyclamates) lists “Authorised” in England, Scotland and Wales. Register updated: 01 April 2025; record checked: . Food-specific conditions and specifications still need a separate legal check. |
| United States | Complete current-use review pending. Any scoped provision in the label guide above applies only to the stated use. FDA explains the applicable food-additive and GRAS framework. |
| Northern Ireland | Review pending. Check the applicable EU rules and territory arrangements; the GB register alone does not establish this status. FSA guidance is a starting source, not a verified permission for this entry. |
| Canada | Food use restricted; separate non-food rules CFIA states that cyclamate sweeteners cannot be used in foods. They may be sold directly to consumers as non-food sweetener products under Part E, with ingredient/quantity/energy labelling, limited advertising and a caution to use only on a physician’s advice. EatMatrix reading: Do not treat a legally sold cyclamate sweetener as permission to add cyclamates to a manufactured food. The acid and salts are included in the cyclamate-sweetener definition. Name and category review: . This describes the legal source check, not a finding that the ingredient is safe, unsafe or untested. Sources and names checkedNames checked: Cyclamic acid, calcium cyclamate, sodium cyclamate; Cyclamate; Sodium Cyclamate; Calcium Cyclamate; Cyclamic Acid. All 15 Health Canada permitted-additive lists were checked by exact name, with the reviewed alternatives above. E-numbers alone are not Canadian ingredient names. The Justice Canada consolidation read was current to 21 September 2026. A complete product decision also requires its composition, specifications, intended food and use, quantities, applicable separate provisions and any later changes. |
| Australia | Review pending. Food Standards Code permissions and conditions need an additive-specific check. FSANZ food-additive rules is a starting source, not a verified permission for this entry. |
| New Zealand | Review pending. Food Standards Code permissions and conditions need an additive-specific check. FSANZ food-additive rules is a starting source, not a verified permission for this entry. |
| Japan | Review pending. The relevant list, identity and use standards need an additive-specific check. CAA food-additive lists is a starting source, not a verified permission for this entry. |
Sources & review status
Check what each source covers: an authority’s conclusion, a research finding and a country’s legal permission answer different questions.
What this guide covers
- Original ingredient record
- No research links in the original record. Sources added separately to this guide are not included in this count.
This guide brings together our ingredient record and the dated sources shown here. Missing information describes a gap in this guide; it does not mean an ingredient is untested, safe or harmful. This is not a complete review of every study, preparation or current country rule. The amount in a product and how it is used still matter.
How to read the ratings, research and country checksAgency labels recorded by EatMatrix
These are imported database classifications, not verified current statements from each authority. Use the dated official sources below for their actual scope and conclusions.
| Authority | Database label |
|---|---|
| FDA | Better avoided |
| WHO | Safe in moderation |
| FSANZ | Safe |
Database updated: . What does an E number mean on a food label?
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
What is EatMatrix's recorded rating for E952?
The recorded EatMatrix rating for E952 (Cyclamic acid, calcium cyclamate, sodium cyclamate) is “Better avoided”. It is calculated from labels stored in our ingredient database. These labels are not verified current regulator decisions or country permissions. A database update date is not a scientific review date.
Is E952 vegan, halal or gluten-free?
According to our ingredient data for Cyclamic acid, calcium cyclamate, sodium cyclamate — vegan: yes, vegetarian: yes, halal: yes, kosher: yes, gluten-free: yes, dairy-free: yes. Manufacturing sources can vary between products; check the label if it matters to you.
What is E952 and why is it used?
Cyclamic acid and its calcium and sodium salts (cyclamates) are calorie-free artificial sweeteners about 30-50 times sweeter than sugar. They are heat-stable and often blended with other sweeteners like saccharin. Cyclamates are approved for use in the EU and many other countries, but they have been banned in the United States since 1970 over cancer concerns raised in animal studies; later research has not confirmed a risk in humans, and EFSA has set an acceptable daily intake for continued use where permitted.
Does E952 contain allergens?
No known allergens are recorded for Cyclamic acid, calcium cyclamate, sodium cyclamate.
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This page shows information and classifications recorded in our ingredient database. Current scientific and market-specific verification remains pending as described above. It is general information, not medical advice.