Foods Containing E957 (Thaumatin)
E957 (Thaumatin) is a protein extracted from the katemfe fruit, used as a artificial & intense sweetener to help sweeten foods with fewer or zero calories than sugar. Here's where you're most likely to find it on food labels.
Common foods that contain E957
E957 is used across diet soft drinks, sugar-free gum, desserts, yoghurts and low-calorie foods. The foods where it appears most often include:
- Diet soft drinks
- Sugar-free gum
- Desserts
- Yoghurts and low-calorie foods
Exact usage varies by brand and recipe — the only way to know for certain whether a specific product contains E957 is to check its ingredients list, where it must be declared by law, either as "E957" or as "Thaumatin".
How to spot E957 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: E957" or "artificial and intense sweeteners: thaumatin". In the US the E-number system isn't used, so look for the full name "Thaumatin" instead.
Should you avoid foods containing E957?
E957 is considered safe. It is authorised across the EU, UK and US, and safety evaluations by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) have not identified health concerns at the levels used in food. For most people there is no reason to avoid E957.
Full guide to E957: 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).