How Many Nonnutritive Sweeteners Have Been Approved for Use by the FDA NASM?

As of late 2025, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has permitted the use of nine high-intensity nonnutritive sweeteners, including both formally approved food additives and ingredients with a Generally Recognized As Safe (GRAS) status. In contrast, the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM) does not approve sweeteners; instead, its dietary guidance is based on established scientific and regulatory bodies.

Quick Summary

The FDA regulates and permits nine nonnutritive sweeteners, a mix of food additives and GRAS substances, based on safety assessments. NASM relies on the guidance of these official regulatory bodies for its nutrition education, as it does not regulate food ingredients itself.

Key Points

• FDA regulates, NASM educates: The FDA officially approves and regulates food additives and GRAS substances, while NASM is an educational body that follows regulatory guidance.

• Nine permitted sweeteners: The FDA currently permits the use of nine high-intensity nonnutritive sweeteners through its food additive and GRAS programs.

• Two approval categories: The nine sweeteners include six formally approved as food additives (saccharin, Acesulfame Potassium, aspartame, sucralose, neotame, advantame) and three with Generally Recognized As Safe (GRAS) status (purified stevia, monk fruit, thaumatin).

• Moderation advised: Organizations like NASM and WHO often advise moderation and focus on overall diet quality, noting that nonnutritive sweeteners can be part of a healthy diet if used judiciously.

• Safety within ADI: The FDA sets Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI) levels for approved sweeteners, deeming them safe for consumption within these limits over a lifetime.

• Ongoing research: While considered safe by the FDA, research into long-term effects on factors like the gut microbiome and metabolic responses continues to evolve.

Understanding the Roles: FDA vs. NASM

The inquiry of how many nonnutritive sweeteners have been approved for use by the FDA NASM stems from a common confusion regarding the roles of these organizations. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is the government agency responsible for protecting public health by ensuring the safety, efficacy, and security of food. This includes the rigorous premarket review and approval of food additives, such as synthetic high-intensity sweeteners, or the evaluation of substances designated as Generally Recognized As Safe (GRAS). In contrast, the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM) is a private, educational organization that provides certifications and continuing education for fitness and nutrition professionals. NASM's role is to synthesize and disseminate scientific knowledge to help its members guide clients; it does not possess the authority to approve food ingredients and relies on the safety determinations made by the FDA and other authoritative health bodies. Therefore, to understand the landscape of approved nonnutritive sweeteners, one must look solely to the FDA.

The FDA's Nonnutritive Sweetener Portfolio

The FDA categorizes high-intensity sweeteners, which are far sweeter than sugar with minimal to no caloric contribution, in two ways: as food additives or as GRAS substances. A sweetener approved as a food additive must undergo extensive safety testing and formal premarket review by the FDA. A substance with GRAS status, on the other hand, does not require FDA premarket approval because its safety has been widely established by qualified scientific experts through publicly available information.

Sweeteners Approved as Food Additives

The FDA has formally approved six high-intensity sweeteners for use as food additives in the United States:

• Saccharin: The oldest artificial sweetener, first approved in 1977 following decades of use and safety reviews. Brands include Sweet'N Low and Necta Sweet.
• Acesulfame Potassium (Ace-K): Approved in 1988 for specific food categories and later as a general-purpose sweetener in 2003. It is heat-stable and often used in combination with other sweeteners. Brand names include Sunett and Sweet One.
• Aspartame: Approved in 1974 for tabletop use and other dry goods, with approval for soft drinks following in 1983. Aspartame is composed of two amino acids. Brands include Equal and NutraSweet.
• Sucralose: A highly stable sweetener approved in 1998 that can be used in baking and is found in a wide variety of food products. The most common brand name is Splenda.
• Neotame: Approved in 2002 as a general-purpose sweetener and flavor enhancer (except in meat and poultry). It is exceptionally sweet, requiring minimal amounts.
• Advantame: The most recently approved, receiving the green light in 2014 for general use (except in meat and poultry). It is also very high-intensity and heat-stable.

Sweeteners with GRAS Status

In addition to food additives, the FDA has not questioned the GRAS status of several other sweeteners, based on submissions from manufacturers.

• Steviol Glycosides: These are purified extracts from the stevia plant leaves. Only the high-purity extracts are considered GRAS, not whole leaf or crude stevia extracts. Brands include Truvia and PureVia.
• Monk Fruit Extract (Luo Han Guo): This extract from the monk fruit has been evaluated and received no objections from the FDA regarding its GRAS status. It is 100-250 times sweeter than table sugar.
• Thaumatin: A protein isolated from the katemfe fruit, which has also been subject to GRAS notices with no objection from the FDA.

Nonnutritive Sweeteners: A Comparison

To better understand the range of options, the following table summarizes the key characteristics of the nine FDA-regulated nonnutritive sweeteners:

Sweetener Name	FDA Status	Relative Sweetness (vs. Sugar)	Heat Stability	Common Brand Names	Special Considerations
Saccharin	Food Additive	200-700x	Poor	Sweet'N Low	Some aftertaste; initial cancer scares proven irrelevant.
Acesulfame Potassium (Ace-K)	Food Additive	~200x	Stable	Sunett, Sweet One	Often blended with other sweeteners to improve taste.
Aspartame	Food Additive	~200x	Poor	Equal, NutraSweet	Not heat-stable; contains phenylalanine, a concern for individuals with PKU.
Sucralose	Food Additive	~600x	Stable	Splenda	Very versatile, stable for baking and cooking.
Neotame	Food Additive	7,000-13,000x	Stable	Newtame	Used in minimal amounts; no PKU warning needed.
Advantame	Food Additive	~20,000x	Stable	Advantame	Highest intensity; approved for general use except meat/poultry.
Steviol Glycosides (Stevia)	GRAS	200-400x	Stable	Truvia, PureVia	Purified extracts only; natural origin.
Monk Fruit Extract	GRAS	100-250x	Stable	Monk Fruit in the Raw	Also natural origin; popular for clean label products.
Thaumatin	GRAS	2,000-3,000x	Stable	Talin	Natural protein extract; also used as a flavor enhancer.

The National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM) and Sweetener Guidance

For an organization like the NASM, which provides educational content for fitness professionals, its position on nonnutritive sweeteners is guided by the broader scientific consensus and health authority recommendations, primarily those established by the FDA. NASM’s role involves educating its certified professionals on how these ingredients fit into a client's overall diet plan, focusing on appropriate use and moderation. Rather than dictating which specific sweeteners are acceptable, NASM emphasizes key nutritional principles, such as reducing overall sugar intake and improving diet quality by prioritizing whole foods. A fitness professional would advise a client to consider that products containing these sweeteners, while lower in calories, may still be highly processed and should not be seen as a perfect substitute for nutrient-dense foods.

Recent discussions from organizations like the World Health Organization (WHO) and other research bodies have also influenced how nonnutritive sweeteners are viewed in nutrition science. Some observational studies have raised questions about long-term health outcomes, including potential links to altered gut microbiota, metabolic changes, and weight management. However, these studies are often complex and cannot establish a clear causal link, and regulatory bodies like the FDA and WHO's Joint Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) maintain their safety conclusions for intake within Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI) levels. NASM's guidance would naturally incorporate this context, encouraging a balanced, evidence-based approach that considers both the benefits and the ongoing scientific debate.

Conclusion

In summary, the question of how many nonnutritive sweeteners have been approved for use by the FDA NASM requires a distinction between the roles of the two entities. The FDA, as the regulatory body, has confirmed the safety and permitted the use of nine specific high-intensity nonnutritive sweeteners through its food additive and GRAS programs. This list includes saccharin, Acesulfame Potassium, aspartame, sucralose, neotame, advantame, purified steviol glycosides, monk fruit extract, and thaumatin. The NASM, as an educational organization, does not grant such approvals but instead bases its nutrition guidance on the findings and regulations of expert bodies like the FDA, promoting a balanced and informed perspective for its members and their clients. The FDA continues to monitor research on these substances to ensure they meet the safety standard of reasonable certainty of no harm under their intended conditions of use.

U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Website

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the primary difference between the FDA and NASM regarding nonnutritive sweeteners?

The FDA is a governmental regulatory agency that evaluates and permits the use of food ingredients, while NASM is a private educational organization that does not regulate food but provides nutrition guidance based on the findings of official regulatory and health bodies like the FDA.

How many total nonnutritive sweeteners are permitted by the FDA?

The FDA permits the use of nine high-intensity nonnutritive sweeteners through two different regulatory pathways: food additive approval and Generally Recognized As Safe (GRAS) status.

Does NASM have its own list of approved sweeteners?

No, NASM does not have its own list of approved sweeteners. As an educational organization, it refers to the safety and use information published by the FDA and other health agencies to inform its dietary recommendations.

What is the difference between an FDA-approved food additive and a GRAS sweetener?

A food additive undergoes a formal premarket review and approval process by the FDA. A GRAS substance is considered safe by qualified experts based on publicly available data and does not require a formal FDA premarket approval.

Is there a maximum amount of nonnutritive sweetener a person can safely consume?

Yes, for most FDA-approved sweeteners, the agency has established an Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI). This is the amount a person can safely consume daily over their lifetime.

Are 'natural' nonnutritive sweeteners like stevia and monk fruit also regulated?

Yes. Highly purified steviol glycosides from the stevia plant and monk fruit extracts are regulated and have received GRAS status from the FDA, meaning their use has been deemed safe by qualified experts.

Are all nonnutritive sweeteners heat-stable for baking?

No. Sweeteners like Acesulfame Potassium (Ace-K), sucralose, neotame, advantame, stevia, and monk fruit are heat-stable. However, aspartame is not stable at high temperatures and will lose its sweetness.