Side-by-Side Comparison
Food Additives & E-Numbers
E300: L-Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C Antioxidant & Flour Improver) vs. E951: Aspartame (Dipeptide Sweetener / 200x)
Comparing 2 standards across 15 specifications. 15 key differences identified.
Comparing:
E300: L-Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C Antioxidant & Flour Improver)
E951: Aspartame (Dipeptide Sweetener / 200x)
L-Ascorbic Acid (E300, C6H8O6) is a water-soluble antioxidant, dough conditioner, and vitamin fortifier that scavenges dissolved oxygen, prevents fruit enzymatic browning, and cross-links wheat gluten disulfide bridges in commercial baking.
E951 (Aspartame) is a methyl ester of the aspartic acid/phenylalanine dipeptide yielding ~200x the sweetness of sucrose. INS 951, ADI is 40 mg/kg bw/day, the historic sweetener in Diet Coke and tabletop sweetener packets.
Specification Comparison Table
15 Parameters| Parameter / Spec | ||
|---|---|---|
|
Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI)
|
Not Specified (Quantum Satis / GRAS under FDA 21 CFR 182.3013) | 40 mg / kg body weight per day (US FDA: 50 mg/kg) |
|
INS / E-Number
|
INS 300 / E300 | — |
|
Chemical Formula
|
C₆H₈O₆ (Molecular Weight: 176.12 g/mol) | — |
|
Functional Classes
|
Antioxidant / Flour Treatment Agent / Sequestrant / Nutrient Supplement | — |
|
Solubility
|
330 g/L in water at 20°C | — |
|
Redox Potential
|
+0.06 V at pH 7.0 (readily donates two electrons to dehydroascorbic acid) | — |
|
E-Number Code
|
— | E951 |
|
INS / Codex Number
|
— | INS 951 |
|
Functional Class
|
— | High-Intensity Artificial Sweetener |
|
Relative Sweetness Index
|
— | 200x Sucrose |
|
Caloric Value
|
— | 4.0 kcal / g (Negligible at use levels / ~0.1 kcal per serving) kcal/g |
|
Primary Mechanism
|
— | Stimulates T1R2/T1R3 sweet taste receptors with clean, sugar-like taste profile |
|
Common Target Foods
|
— | Diet sodas, tabletop sweetener packets (Equal), sugar-free gelatin desserts, drink mixes |
|
Dietary Compliance
|
— | Vegetarian, Halal, Kosher, Contains Phenylalanine (Warning for PKU patients mandatory) |
|
Safety Approval
|
— | EFSA Authorized / FDA Approved (21 CFR 172.804) |
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