Foods Containing E952 (Cyclamate)
E952 (Cyclamate) is a sweetener banned in the United States since 1970 but permitted in the UK and EU at limited levels. Here's where you're most likely to find it on food labels.
Common foods that contain E952
E952 is used across diet soft drinks, sugar-free gum, desserts, yoghurts and low-calorie foods. The foods where it appears most often include:
- Squash and dilutable drinks
- Tabletop sweeteners
- Sugar-free products (EU/UK)
Exact usage varies by brand and recipe — the only way to know for certain whether a specific product contains E952 is to check its ingredients list, where it must be declared by law, either as "E952" or as "Cyclamate".
How to spot E952 on a label
In the UK and EU, additives must appear in the ingredients list with their function and either their E-number or full name — for example "artificial and intense sweeteners: E952" or "artificial and intense sweeteners: cyclamate". In the US the E-number system isn't used, so look for the full name "Cyclamate" instead.
Should you avoid foods containing E952?
E952 is banned or restricted in one or more major markets. Different regulators have reviewed the evidence and reached different conclusions, so its status depends on where you live — always check the position in your own country. Cyclamate was banned in the US in 1970 after rat studies (later heavily disputed), yet remains approved in over 50 countries including the UK and EU — one of the clearest examples of regulators reaching opposite conclusions from the same data.
Full guide to E952: safety, vegan and halal status →
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Additive data sourced from Open Food Facts (ODbL licence) and the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA).