E170: Calcium Carbonate (Mineral White Color / Anti-Caking) vs. E951: Aspartame (Dipeptide Sweetener / 200x)
Comparing 2 standards across 11 specifications. 11 key differences identified.
E170 (Calcium Carbonate / CaCO3) is a fine mineral salt mined from limestone or precipitated synthetically. INS 170(i), ADI is Not Limited (Quantum Satis), serving as a white surface colorant, acidity buffer, anti-caking agent, and calcium nutrient fortificant.
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
11 Parameters| Parameter / Spec | ||
|---|---|---|
|
E-Number Code
|
E170 | E951 |
|
INS / Codex Number
|
INS 170(i) | INS 951 |
|
Functional Class
|
Food Color (White / Opacifier), Anti-Caking, Acidity Regulator, Nutrient | High-Intensity Artificial Sweetener |
|
Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI)
|
Not Limited (Quantum Satis) | 40 mg / kg body weight per day (US FDA: 50 mg/kg) |
|
Primary Mechanism
|
High refractive index light scattering creating white opacity; neutralizes acids to calcium salts and CO2 | Stimulates T1R2/T1R3 sweet taste receptors with clean, sugar-like taste profile |
|
Common Target Foods
|
Chewing gum coatings, plant milks (Soy/Almond calcium fortification), baking powders, tablets | Diet sodas, tabletop sweetener packets (Equal), sugar-free gelatin desserts, drink mixes |
|
Dietary Compliance
|
Vegan (Mineral limestone), Halal, Kosher | Vegetarian, Halal, Kosher, Contains Phenylalanine (Warning for PKU patients mandatory) |
|
Safety Approval
|
EFSA Authorized / FDA GRAS (21 CFR 184.1191) | EFSA Authorized / FDA Approved (21 CFR 172.804) |
|
Chemical Formula
|
CaCO3 | — |
|
Relative Sweetness Index
|
— | 200x Sucrose |
|
Caloric Value
|
— | 4.0 kcal / g (Negligible at use levels / ~0.1 kcal per serving) kcal/g |