What Sugar Substitute Was Taken Off the Market?

December 15, 2025 •

5 min read

In 1970, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the US officially banned the use of cyclamate, a popular sugar substitute. This swift regulatory action came after animal studies linked the additive to an increased risk of bladder cancer, triggering a major controversy and a significant shift in the diet food industry.

Quick Summary

Cyclamate was the sugar substitute banned in the U.S. in 1970 following studies suggesting a cancer link in lab animals. The decision prompted stricter scrutiny of sweeteners like saccharin and significantly altered the artificial sweetener market landscape.

Key Points

Cyclamate Ban: The sugar substitute cyclamate was taken off the market in the U.S. in 1970 after animal studies suggested it might cause cancer.
Delaney Clause: The ban was initiated under the 1958 Delaney Amendment, which required the removal of any food additive found to cause cancer in animals or humans.
Saccharin's Survival: Saccharin, another sweetener, faced a similar ban attempt in the late 1970s but survived due to public opposition, with warning labels removed in 2000 after human studies found no link to cancer at typical doses.
Stevia's Limited Approval: The FDA temporarily banned crude stevia leaf extracts, but granted 'Generally Recognized as Safe' (GRAS) status to highly purified steviol glycoside extracts in 2008.
Ongoing Scrutiny: The cyclamate ban ushered in an era of increased regulatory scrutiny and public debate over the safety of artificial sweeteners, controversies which continue today with sweeteners like aspartame.
Scientific Evolution: The episode demonstrates how scientific understanding evolves, as the cancer link found in the initial rat studies for cyclamate and saccharin was not later replicated in human studies.

Cyclamate: The Sugar Substitute Taken Off the Market

In a landmark decision on October 21, 1969, Robert Finch, then Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare, announced that products containing the artificial sweetener cyclamate would be removed from the U.S. consumer market. The ban, which took effect in early 1970, marked a pivotal moment in food regulation and consumer confidence. For nearly two decades prior, cyclamates—synthesized salts of cyclamic acid—had been a primary sugar replacement in diet soft drinks and canned foods.

The downfall of cyclamate began with a 1969 study conducted by Abbott Laboratories, the primary manufacturer of the substance. Researchers found that rats fed large doses of a cyclamate/saccharin mixture developed potentially malignant tumors in their bladders. Though the validity of the study and the high doses used were later questioned, the results were enough to trigger action under the 1958 Delaney Amendment. This amendment to the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act mandated that any food additive shown to cause cancer in animals or humans must be removed from the market.

The Aftermath and Public Reaction

The announcement sent the food and beverage industry reeling, as many popular diet products were suddenly obsolete. Consumers reacted in mixed ways, with some rushing to stock up on their favorite low-calorie treats while others immediately began avoiding products with cyclamate. In the scramble to find a replacement, many manufacturers pivoted to saccharin, another artificial sweetener.

The controversy had several key consequences:

It elevated public awareness of food additives and their safety.
It forced manufacturers to reformulate products, affecting a significant portion of the beverage and canned fruit market.
It paved the way for intense scrutiny of other sweeteners, including the now-famous saccharin and aspartame.
It demonstrated the power of regulatory agencies, even when faced with public and industry opposition.

The Ongoing Saga of Other Sweeteners

While cyclamate remains banned in the United States, its legacy is evident in the stories of other sweeteners that have faced similar scrutiny. The regulatory history of artificial sweeteners is a complex tale of science, public perception, and industry pressure.

Saccharin: The Un-Banned Sweetener Following the cyclamate ban, saccharin became the temporary sweetener of choice, despite its own long history of controversy. It faced a similar fate in the late 1970s when animal studies linked it to bladder cancer in rats, prompting the FDA to attempt a ban. However, public backlash and congressional intervention prevented the ban, instead mandating a warning label on all saccharin-containing products. By 2000, further research revealed that the mechanism for cancer formation in rats did not apply to humans, and the warning label was finally removed. Today, saccharin is once again approved for consumption.

Aspartame: The Controversial Survivor Aspartame, known by brand names like NutraSweet and Equal, came into prominence in the 1980s as the next major sweetener. Since its approval, it has been the subject of persistent safety concerns and rumors, though extensive research and multiple reviews have consistently deemed it safe for consumption by regulatory bodies like the FDA and the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). A key distinction with aspartame is its composition from two amino acids, making it a different chemical compound from cyclamate. It has faced scrutiny from bodies like the World Health Organization's International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), which classified it as “possibly carcinogenic to humans” in 2023, while simultaneously reaffirming the acceptable daily intake limits.

Stevia: The Natural Sweetener with a Bumpy Ride Stevia, derived from a plant, was also initially banned by the FDA in 1991 for use as a sweetener, relegated to being sold only as a dietary supplement. This decision was due to concerns about a lack of sufficient toxicological data. However, the FDA's stance changed in 2008 when it granted Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) status to highly purified steviol glycoside extracts, allowing them to be used as a general-purpose sweetener in foods and beverages. Crude stevia leaf extracts still do not hold GRAS status.

Sweetener Showdown: A Comparative Table


Feature	Cyclamate	Saccharin	Aspartame	Sucralose	Stevia (Pure Extract)
Discovered	1937	1879	1965	1976	1931
Caloric Value	Zero	Zero	Almost zero	Zero	Zero
Sweetness	~30x sugar	200-700x sugar	~200x sugar	~600x sugar	200-400x sugar
Banned in US?	Yes, permanently	No, warning label removed	No	No	Crude leaf banned, purified extract approved
Heat Stable?	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes
Key Concern	Cancer risk (in rats)	Bladder cancer (in rats)	Possible carcinogen (IARC)	None in FDA reviews	Lack of data (crude)

The Evolution of Food Safety and Regulation

The ban on cyclamate was not an isolated incident but a sign of a larger, more vigilant regulatory environment emerging around food additives. The episode underscored the delicate balance between innovation in the food industry and the public's right to a safe food supply. The story of cyclamate, saccharin, and other sweeteners demonstrates that scientific consensus and regulatory policy can evolve over time as new research emerges. The rigorous testing and ongoing monitoring of food additives by agencies like the FDA is a direct result of past controversies and a continuous effort to ensure consumer safety. The case also brought to light the complexities of applying animal study results to human health, a recurring challenge in toxicology. For more information on the history of food additives and the FDA's role, consult reliable regulatory resources like the official FDA website.

Conclusion: A Cautionary Tale of Sweetness and Science

The ban on cyclamate in the United States stands as a significant cautionary tale in the history of food science. Prompted by potentially flawed animal studies and strict food safety laws, its removal reshaped the low-calorie market and heightened public and regulatory scrutiny of other sugar substitutes. While the risk posed by cyclamate was later deemed less severe for humans than initially thought, the event set a new standard for evaluating the safety of food additives. It highlighted the fluid nature of scientific understanding and the need for continual, robust research to ensure the safety of our food supply. Today's broader range of approved sweeteners is a testament to both scientific advancement and the lessons learned from the controversies of the past, reinforcing the importance of informed consumption and rigorous food safety standards.

Frequently Asked Questions

Cyclamate was taken off the U.S. market in 1970 because a 1969 study on rats, using very high doses, suggested a link to bladder cancer. This triggered a mandatory ban under the Delaney Clause of the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act.

Yes, cyclamate remains banned in the United States. Although subsequent studies failed to confirm the cancer link in humans, the FDA has not reversed its ban.

The cyclamate ban prompted more rigorous testing of all food additives. Sweeteners like saccharin, aspartame, and sucralose have gone through extensive safety reviews and are deemed safe for human consumption at approved levels by regulatory bodies like the FDA.

Saccharin became the primary replacement for cyclamate. It faced its own ban attempt in the 1970s but survived with a warning label until 2000, when it was removed from the list of potential carcinogens based on new science.

The FDA initially restricted stevia in 1991 due to a lack of sufficient toxicological data, limiting it to a dietary supplement. It later approved highly purified steviol glycoside extracts as 'Generally Recognized as Safe' (GRAS) in 2008.

The ban forced major reformulation of diet soft drinks and canned foods, which widely used cyclamate. This created a vacuum that led to the rise of saccharin and later, aspartame, as the new dominant artificial sweeteners.

Yes, aspartame has been deemed safe by the FDA and other major health organizations based on extensive scientific reviews. It is one of the most studied food additives in the food supply.

Yes, cyclamate is permitted in many countries around the world, including Canada and parts of Europe. This highlights differing regulatory standards and interpretations of scientific evidence.

The Delaney Clause was a 1958 amendment that mandated the removal of any food additive found to cause cancer in animal or human testing. The 1969 rat study on cyclamate triggered this clause, leading directly to the U.S. ban.