Sodium cyclamate (cyclamate) in food: ingestion safety
Low riskIn jurisdictions where cyclamate is permitted, dietary ingestion via sweetened foods and beverages (diet sodas, tabletop sweeteners, confectionery) is the primary exposure route. EFSA estimated typical dietary cyclamate intakes in EU adults of 0.5–3 mg/kg bw/day — well within the 7 mg/kg bw/day ADI. The critical metabolic consideration is hepatic conversion by gut flora to cyclohexylamine in some individuals; cyclohexylamine has endocrine effects at high doses in animals. Individual variation in cyclohexylamine conversion rate (15–25% of population are 'converters') was the basis for EFSA setting the ADI to account for this. Acute ingestion at doses far above the ADI can cause GI distress. In the US, cyclamate illicit use in imported foods (particularly Hispanic and Asian products) has been detected by FDA surveillance; consumers encountering unlabeled cyclamate imports face the full regulatory uncertainty.
What is sodium cyclamate (cyclamate)?
The IUPAC name is sodium N-cyclohexylsulfamate.
Also known as: sodium N-cyclohexylsulfamate, SODIUM CYCLAMATE, Sucaryl sodium, Cyclamate sodium.
- IUPAC name
- sodium N-cyclohexylsulfamate
- CAS number
- 139-05-9
- Molecular formula
- C6H12NNaO3S
- Molecular weight
- 201.22 g/mol
- SMILES
- C1CCC(CC1)NS(=O)(=O)[O-].[Na+]
- PubChem CID
- 23665706
Risk for people
Low riskIn jurisdictions where cyclamate is permitted, dietary ingestion via sweetened foods and beverages (diet sodas, tabletop sweeteners, confectionery) is the primary exposure route. EFSA estimated typical dietary cyclamate intakes in EU adults of 0.5–3 mg/kg bw/day — well within the 7 mg/kg bw/day ADI. The critical metabolic consideration is hepatic conversion by gut flora to cyclohexylamine in some individuals; cyclohexylamine has endocrine effects at high doses in animals. Individual variation in cyclohexylamine conversion rate (15–25% of population are 'converters') was the basis for EFSA setting the ADI to account for this. Acute ingestion at doses far above the ADI can cause GI distress. In the US, cyclamate illicit use in imported foods (particularly Hispanic and Asian products) has been detected by FDA surveillance; consumers encountering unlabeled cyclamate imports face the full regulatory uncertainty.
Regulatory consensus
3 regulatory and scientific bodies have classified Sodium cyclamate (cyclamate). The classifications differ — that's the data.
| Agency | Year | Classification | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| EPA CTX / IARC | — | Group 3 - Not classifiable as to its carcinogenicity to humans | |
| EPA CTX / Genetox | — | Genotoxicity: negative (Ames: negative, 0 positive / 6 negative reports) | |
| EPA CTX / Genetox | — | Genotoxicity: negative (Ames: negative, 0 positive / 6 negative reports) |
Regulators apply different standards of evidence — animal-data weighting, exposure-pattern assumptions, epidemiological power thresholds — which is why two scientific bodies can review the same data and reach different conclusions. The disagreement is the data.
Where you encounter sodium cyclamate (cyclamate)
- Industrial Facilities — Manufacturing plants, Chemical storage areas, Waste treatment sites
- Occupational Environments — Factories, Warehouses, Transportation vehicles
- Food — processed food, beverages, candy, baked goods
Safer alternatives
Lower-risk approaches that achieve a similar outcome to Sodium cyclamate (cyclamate):
-
Natural preservatives; Clean-label ingredients; Minimally processed food
Trade-offs: Consumer label appeal ('clean label'); variable efficacy depending on food matrix and target pathogen; may alter flavor/color; regulatory status varies by jurisdiction; often more expensive per unit of preservation effect.Relative cost: 2-5× conventional
Frequently asked questions
Is sodium cyclamate (cyclamate) safe for you?
In jurisdictions where cyclamate is permitted, dietary ingestion via sweetened foods and beverages (diet sodas, tabletop sweeteners, confectionery) is the primary exposure route. EFSA estimated typical dietary cyclamate intakes in EU adults of 0.5–3 mg/kg bw/day — well within the 7 mg/kg bw/day ADI. The critical metabolic consideration is hepatic conversion by gut flora to cyclohexylamine in some individuals; cyclohexylamine has endocrine effects at high doses in animals. Individual variation in cyclohexylamine conversion rate (15–25% of population are 'converters') was the basis for EFSA setting the ADI to account for this. Acute ingestion at doses far above the ADI can cause GI distress. In the US, cyclamate illicit use in imported foods (particularly Hispanic and Asian products) has been detected by FDA surveillance; consumers encountering unlabeled cyclamate imports face the full regulatory uncertainty.
What products contain sodium cyclamate (cyclamate)?
Sodium cyclamate (cyclamate) appears in: Manufacturing plants (Industrial facilities); Chemical storage areas (Industrial facilities); Factories (Occupational environments); Warehouses (Occupational environments); processed food (Food).
Why do regulators disagree about sodium cyclamate (cyclamate)?
Sodium cyclamate (cyclamate) has been classified by 3 agencies including EPA CTX / IARC, EPA CTX / Genetox, EPA CTX / Genetox, with differing conclusions. Regulators apply different standards of evidence (animal data weighting, exposure-pattern assumptions, epidemiological power thresholds), which is why two scientific bodies can review the same data and reach different conclusions. See the regulatory consensus table on this page for the full picture.
See Sodium cyclamate (cyclamate) in the food app
Look up products containing sodium cyclamate (cyclamate), compare to alternatives, and explore the full data record.
Open in food View raw API dataSources (3)
- US FDA: Sodium Cyclamate — 1969 Prohibition Order, Bladder Tumor Rat Study Basis, Subsequent Petitions for Re-approval, and Current Banned Status in US Food Supply (2022 status update) (2022) — regulatory
- EFSA Panel on Food Additives: Re-evaluation of Cyclamate (E952) — ADI 7 mg/kg bw/day, Cyclohexylamine Metabolite Assessment, Safety Confirmation at Dietary Exposure Levels (EFSA Journal 2009;96) (2009) — regulatory
- WHO JECFA: Cyclamate and Sodium Cyclamate — Safety Evaluation, ADI 11 mg/kg bw/day (as cyclamic acid equivalent), Global Regulatory Status, and Repeated Confirmation of Safety at Permitted Use Levels (2019) (2019) — regulatory
Reference data, not professional advice. Aggregates publicly available regulatory and scientific data; not a substitute for veterinary, medical, legal, or regulatory advice. Why we built ALETHEIA →