What it does
It adds sweetness. Seeing it on a label tells you its role in the recipe, not whether the whole food is nutritious or how much was used.
Names you may see on the label
acesulfame K; acesulfame potassium; Ace-K; E950; E 950
Where it showed up in our published study
In the published 10 October 2026 snapshot, acesulfame K appeared in protein yoghurts, pots and puddings (4).
Counts are per record and do not measure Irish sales or the whole market.
Label rules
For a food containing acesulfame K, the authorised-sweetener rule requires the statement with sweetener(s)
with the name of the food.
The rule shown for acesulfame K comes from Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011, Article 21 and/or Annex III as applicable: official EUR-Lex text (checked 24 October 2026).
FoodSussed processing Level
FoodSussed treats a declared sweetener as one processing marker and then reads the rest of the ingredients list.
Health and safety disclaimer
This page makes no health or safety verdict. EU authorisation is conditional by food category and may include limits or other restrictions; it is not unlimited permission in every food.
One permitted-use example
The EU list includes acesulfame K in confectionery with no added sugar, under the limits and conditions for that category.
The E950 example links to an official EUR-Lex permitted-use source checked 24 October 2026. The European Commission food-additives database was checked on the same date for acesulfame K.
Questions people ask
How can I recognise acesulfame K on a food label?
Acesulfame K may be declared as acesulfame K; acesulfame potassium; Ace-K; E950; E 950, including the number E950.
Where did acesulfame K appear in the published study?
The largest published product-type group for acesulfame K was protein yoghurts, pots and puddings (4 of 4 matched records).
Sources
- European Commission food-additives database (checked 24 October 2026)
- EU permitted-use source for the example above (checked 24 October 2026)
- Published 10 October study JSON used for the acesulfame K product-type counts