Saccharin, Aspartame, Sucralose and Sodium Cyclamate

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Have you ever thought how sugar came to be? If you have, trust me, you’re not the only one. I too have wondered how this compound was first discovered and how it was first used. But did you know that there are more sugars than the one we know? There are four known types of sugars: Saccharin, aspartame, sucralose and sodium cyclamate. Not many people take interest when it comes to finding out the history of things. But it is really important where the things we consume come from and if they are healthy for us. In this document, I will be providing you all of these four sugars’ history and whether it is healthy or not for you.

Saccharin (C7H5NO3S) was first discovered back in 1878, making it the oldest of the sweeteners on this paper. Saccharin is proved to be between 200 and 700 times sweeter than regular sugar. The way it was discovered was actually not the same as other things in history have. Chemist Constantin Fahlberg takes credit for this discovery. In the 19th century, Fahlberg was hired by Professor Ira Remsen at Johns Hopkins University to conduct some experiments. One day while experimenting, Fahlberg accidentally dropped the sample that contained benzoic sulfinide and got some in his piece of bread. When eating his piece of bread, he noticed that it was sweeter towards the crust. He then went back to the laboratory and tasted every sample in every test tube and every beaker. He then found the one that contained benzoic sulfinide. He noticed that it came from a beaker that had been over boiled that contained sulfobenzoic acid that had come together with phosphorus chloride and ammonia and reacted producing benzoic sulfinide. Fahlberg then described that it was like an alternative for cane sugar. Saccharin...

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...of Sweet: A History of Saccharin." Homepage of the Chemical Heritage Foundation. Chemical Heritage Foundation, n.d. Web. 07 Nov. 2013.

Malin, Andy. "Is Sucralose a Dangerous Sugar Substitute?" Down to Earth. N.P., 12 Mar. 2009. Web. 11 Nov. 2013.

Murray, Rich. "How Aspartame Became Legal - The Timeline." How Aspartame Became Legal - The Timeline. N.P., 24 Dec. 2004. Web. 09 Nov. 2013.

Piper, J.M. "Expert Opinions - Saccharin." The Calorie Control Council. N.P., 1986. Web. 13 Nov. 2013.

"Saccharin Benefits." Saccharin Benefits. N.P., n.d. Web. 7 Nov. 2013.

"Saccharin." Saccharin. N.P., n.d. Web. 07 Nov. 2013.

Staff, Times. "A History of Saccharin." Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles Times, 27 Dec. 2010. Web. 07 Nov. 2013.

"What the Experts Say about Artificial Sweeteners." The Calorie Control Council. American Diabetes Association, n.d. Web. 13 Nov. 2013.

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