Acesulfame K, or acesulfame potassium, was discovered in Germany in 1967 and was approved for use in the United States in 1988. In the United States, acesulfame K was granted general purpose approval in December, 2003. It is 200 times sweeter than sugar and has no aftertaste except when used alone in large amounts. Acesulfame K is not digested by humans, so it is noncaloric. Because it is heat stable, it can be used in cooking and baking. It also has an increased sweetening effect when combined with other sweeteners. Because Ace-K is excreted from the body unchanged, it does not provide any calories, nor does it contribute to potassium intake .

Acesulfame K is marketed under the brand name Sunnette in food products and Sweet One or Swiss Sweet as a tabletop sweetener. It is used in more than 1,000 food products worldwide. It also is used in chewing gum, dry beverage mixes, instant coffees, teas, gelatin, puddings, and nondairy creamer. Application has been made for its use in carbonated beverages, baked goods, and hard and soft confections. Throughout more than 15 years of extensive use, no human health problems associated with consumption of Ace-K have been reported in the scientific literature.

Additional Resources:

http://www.medicinenet.com/artificial_sweeteners/page10.htm