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SWEETENER COMPARISON
Sucralose vs Aspartame: A Comparison for Manufacturers
For a heat-processed product, compare sweetness retention and assess heat-use safety separately. In a cold product, decide with matched-sweetness tasting and storage checks.
Compare candidates at the same perceived sweetness in the finished base. Record the actual dose, process and serving conditions.
Compare at equal sweetness
| Comparison | Sucralose | Aspartame |
|---|---|---|
| Sweetness | About 600 times sucrose in the FDA reference cited by the guide. | About 200 times sucrose in the FDA reference cited by the guide. |
| Calories | Pure sucralose is non-nutritive; check carriers in a supplied blend. | Aspartame provides energy. Calculate the contribution at actual use. |
| Browning | Not covered in the source guides — test it in your own base | Not covered in the source guides — test it in your own base |
| Bulk | Not covered in the source guides — test it in your own base | Not covered in the source guides — test it in your own base |
| Aftertaste | Compare taste in the actual serving. | Compare taste in the actual serving. |
| Stability | Can retain sweetness under heating; verify actual conditions and safety separately. | Can lose sweetness under heating. Check time, temperature and storage. |
| Labelling | Check the current market's intended use and ingredient declaration. | Check intended use and any applicable phenylalanine warning requirements. |
| Best-fit application | Candidate where retained sweetness during processing is important. | Candidate for cold formulations if taste and storage performance pass. |
| Cost-in-use | Not covered in the source guides — test it in your own base | Not covered in the source guides — test it in your own base |
Which should you trial?
- Heated products
- Include sucralose where sweetness retention matters. Review the precise conditions before deciding.
- Cold and short-shelf-life products
- Compare both at equal sweetness at intended service and again at planned storage points.
- Labelling
- Verify the destination's rules for the exact formulation and required declarations.
