ARTIFICIAL SWEETENERS: - University of Maryland

the molecule itself and the binding sites were also needed to be involved for activation at
the receptor site. (14,15,17) It is evident that the molecule purported to be sweet must
contain a minimum of two binding sites for the receptor to recognize them as sweet.
RESEARCH, REGULATION AND THE FDA – CURRENT APPROVED ARTIFICIAL SWEETENERS:
How is an artificial sweetener regulated compared to crop-harvested sugar? The United
States Department of Agriculture, USDA, regulates all crops grown on US soil through
permits issued by the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, APHIS. APHIS
requires information on the plant, the origin of new genes, or gene product, and the
purpose for developing the crop. (10) The USDA also monitors imports/exports of crops
to international sites. In North America, sugar is predominately harvested from sugar
beets but also from sugar cane. (10) The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates
artificial sweeteners as food additives and/or “foodstuffs”. The FDA came out of The
Pure Food and Drug Act of 1906, created to regulate foods and drugs meant for human
consumption. The main purpose of the act was to protect the consumer against
mislabeled or adulterated food. (18) In 1958 and 1960 the Food Additives and the Color
Additive Amendments required pre-market approval of new food ingredients and colors
used in foods respectively. The process for market approval is a four-step communication
between the FDA and the research company. These steps, laid out by The Federal, Food,
Drug and Cosmetic Act of 1938, which replaced the 1906 act, include: 1 st - a proposal,
2 nd - comments that are statements by any consumer or organization question/concern, 3 rd
- responses from the agency filing the proposal and 4 th - final rule from the FDA.
“Additives included are those specified in the regulations promulgated under the FD&C