E962 / Glazing agents, gases & sweeteners
Aspartame-acesulfame salt
Safety in brief
Safe
Recorded EatMatrix rating, not a new clinical review. The amount, your sensitivities and country rules still matter.
- Watch for
- Recorded sensitivities: Contains phenylalanine — unsafe for people with phenylketonuria (PKU)..
- 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
Aspartame-acesulfame salt is a co-crystallized combination of two artificial sweeteners, aspartame and acesulfame K, offering a clean, sugar-like sweetness roughly 350 times sweeter than sucrose. It is used in sugar-free beverages, baked goods, and tabletop sweeteners. Because it contains aspartame, products with this ingredient must be labeled as a source of phenylalanine for people with the rare genetic condition PKU. Regulatory bodies consider it safe within acceptable daily intake limits.
Also appears on labels as: Aspartame-acesulfame salt, Aspartame/Acesulfame K, Aspartame-acesulfame K, E962, E 962, E-962, Aspartame-acesulfame potassium salt, Aspartame-acesulfame sweetener, Aspartame and acesulfame salt, Artificial sweetener E962, Aspartame-acesulfame blend, Aspartame-aceto sulfame salt.
Dietary information
- Vegan
- Yes
- Halal
- Yes
- Gluten-free
- Yes
- Allergens
- Caution
Recorded ingredient information. Check the product label or certification: sources, other ingredients and cross-contact can vary.
Research & body effects
Selected research on E962
How to read study types- Regulator reviewEFSA re-evaluation of aspartame-acesulfame salt
Re-checked aspartame and acesulfame K as part of this review. Confirmed aspartame’s safe daily limit of 40 mg per kg of body weight and found no safety concern at current uses for E950, E951 and E962.
Summaries of each source's published abstract or statement, checked . This is a selection of sources, not a complete literature review. Authority assessments apply to the uses and places they cover.
Health notes from our ingredient record
- Contains phenylalanine, so it must be avoided by people with phenylketonuria (PKU).
- Aspartame component has been the subject of long-running safety debate; IARC classified aspartame as 'possibly carcinogenic to humans' in 2023, while JECFA/EFSA/FDA maintain current intake levels are safe.
- May contribute to sweet-taste conditioning and cravings with frequent use, similar to other high-intensity sweeteners.
Other references from our ingredient record
These links come from the original ingredient record. They are separate from the source reviews above and have not all been checked for the exact ingredient, amount consumed or claim. Dates are shown newest first.
- Re‐evaluation of salt of aspartame‐acesulfame (E 962) as food additive — EFSA Panel on Food Additives, EFSA Journal (2026). Official EFSA scientific opinion (bibliographic reference, imported 2026-10-13). It covers the additive as a group assessment and is not an individual human study; read the opinion for its findings.
Country rules
Country checks for E962
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 E962: Salt of aspartame-acesulfame. 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 E962 (Salt of aspartame-acesulfame) 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 | No exact named entry located in the reviewed additive lists No exact named food-additive entry was located in the 15 current lists for Aspartame-Acesulfame Salt. Separate aspartame and acesulfame-potassium permissions do not automatically establish permission for their distinct salt. EatMatrix reading: Do not claim a permitted additive use from this review. Exact preparation, intended use and any applicable separate legal provision need confirmation; this table result is not a toxicology verdict or proof of a universal ban. 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: Aspartame-acesulfame salt; Aspartame-Acesulfame Salt. 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
- Selected research
- 1 source summaries, with publication dates and study types. Several publications may describe the same study population.
- Official assessment reference
- EFSA opinion located for E962. Identity and code coverage checked; full findings review pending.
- Original ingredient record
- 1 research link; newest recorded date: . 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 |
|---|---|
| WHO | Safe |
| EFSA | Safe |
| FSANZ | Safe |
| UK FSA | Safe |
An official EFSA assessment for E962
An official scientific opinion covering E962 exists. A missing research link or rating in our database does not mean this additive has never been assessed. This reference identifies the document; it does not replace a review of its findings, later research or current food-use rules.
EFSA: Re-evaluation of aspartame-acesulfame salt (E962)
- Published
- Codes covered by this reference
- E962
- Source type
- EFSA scientific opinion, not an individual human trial
This September 2026 opinion is newer than the February 2026 sweetener programme overview. Use the ingredient-specific publication when checking whether its assessment exists.
EatMatrix checked this reference’s identity and code coverage on . The full evidence review, an exhaustive check for subsequent publications and corrections, and market-specific permissions remain pending. This does not change the recorded EatMatrix rating above.
Database updated: . What does an E number mean on a food label?
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
What is EatMatrix's recorded rating for E962?
The recorded EatMatrix rating for E962 (Aspartame-acesulfame salt) is “Safe”. 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 E962 vegan, halal or gluten-free?
According to our ingredient data for Aspartame-acesulfame salt — 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 E962 and why is it used?
Aspartame-acesulfame salt is a co-crystallized combination of two artificial sweeteners, aspartame and acesulfame K, offering a clean, sugar-like sweetness roughly 350 times sweeter than sucrose. It is used in sugar-free beverages, baked goods, and tabletop sweeteners. Because it contains aspartame, products with this ingredient must be labeled as a source of phenylalanine for people with the rare genetic condition PKU. Regulatory bodies consider it safe within acceptable daily intake limits.
Does E962 contain allergens?
No known allergens are recorded for Aspartame-acesulfame salt, with a caution: Contains phenylalanine — unsafe for people with phenylketonuria (PKU)..
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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.