Title: Alternative Sweeteners

134 Stargel et al.
ness of neotame increases as concentrations increase. Taste attributes other than
sweetness remain at very low levels even as neotame concentrations increase.
A. Sweetness Intensity
1. Sweetness Related to Sucrose
‘‘Sucrose equivalence’’ or ‘‘% SE’’ is the standardized sweetness intensity scale
established in sweetener research with sucrose as the reference. An x% SE is
equivalent in sweetness to an x% sucrose water solution. Neotame is functional
as a sweetener in food applications at typical sweetness levels ranging from 3%
SE (e.g., tabletop) to 10% SE (e.g., carbonated soft drinks). The concentrationresponse
(C-R) curve for neotame in water was established by use of a trained
sensory panel to evaluate the sweetness intensity of five solutions of neotame at
increasing concentrations. The results are presented in Fig. 3.
The sweetness potency of neotame is many orders of magnitude greater
than other high-intensity sweeteners. In water, at concentrations equivalent to
Figure 3 Neotame concentration-response curve in water. R observed response;
R max maximum observed response; C sweetener concentration; 1/K concentration
that yields half-maximal response.