Saccharin has zero calories and is 300–500 times sweeter than sugar. It is the oldest artificial sweetener, discovered in 1879. Early rodent cancer links used doses far exceeding human exposure and the mechanism was rat-specific. JECFA, FDA, and EFSA consider it safe at the ADI of 5 mg/kg/day.
How should I track Saccharin?
When tracking Saccharin, measuring by weight on a kitchen scale gives you the most precision. Volume measures vary depending on crystal size and powder density — a heaping spoonful can be double a level one. Research shows visual estimation errors reach 50–200% for calorie-dense foods (Almiron-Roig et al., Appetite 2013), and liquid sweeteners like honey are among the easiest to over-pour. For zero-calorie sweeteners, bulking agents add trace calories (2–4 per packet) — negligible in your daily total. For calorie-containing sweeteners, the scale is essential.