Side-by-Side Comparison
Food Additives & E-Numbers
E951: Aspartame (Dipeptide Sweetener / 200x) vs. E960: Steviol Glycosides (Reb-A / Stevia Extract)
Comparing 2 standards across 11 specifications. 11 key differences identified.
Comparing:
E951: Aspartame (Dipeptide Sweetener / 200x)
E960: Steviol Glycosides (Reb-A / Stevia Extract)
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.
E960 (Steviol Glycosides / Rebaudioside A) is a natural zero-calorie sweetener water-extracted from the leaves of the Stevia plant (Stevia rebaudiana). INS 960a, ADI is 4 mg/kg bw/day (as steviol equivalents), providing 250–350x sucrose sweetness.
Specification Comparison Table
11 Parameters| Parameter / Spec | ||
|---|---|---|
|
E-Number Code
|
E951 | E960 |
|
INS / Codex Number
|
INS 951 | INS 960a / 960c |
|
Functional Class
|
High-Intensity Artificial Sweetener | Natural High-Intensity Sweetener |
|
Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI)
|
40 mg / kg body weight per day (US FDA: 50 mg/kg) | 4 mg / kg body weight per day (as steviol equivalents) |
|
Relative Sweetness Index
|
200x Sucrose | 250 – 350x Sucrose (Reb-A >98%) |
|
Caloric Value
|
4.0 kcal / g (Negligible at use levels / ~0.1 kcal per serving) kcal/g | 0.0 kcal / g kcal/g |
|
Common Target Foods
|
Diet sodas, tabletop sweetener packets (Equal), sugar-free gelatin desserts, drink mixes | Natural zero-calorie sodas (Zevia), flavored yogurts, protein shakes, tabletop drops |
|
Dietary Compliance
|
Vegetarian, Halal, Kosher, Contains Phenylalanine (Warning for PKU patients mandatory) | 100% Vegan (Stevia leaf water extraction), Halal, Kosher, Non-GMO |
|
Safety Approval
|
EFSA Authorized / FDA Approved (21 CFR 172.804) | EFSA Authorized / FDA GRAS Notices (GRN 252) |
|
Primary Mechanism
|
Stimulates T1R2/T1R3 sweet taste receptors with clean, sugar-like taste profile | — |
|
Glycemic Index (GI)
|
— | 0 (Zero effect on blood glucose or insulin) |
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