What Types of Foods Contain Thaumatin?

December 16, 2025 •

2 min read

Thaumatin is a natural protein sweetener extracted from the West African katemfe fruit (Thaumatococcus daniellii), making it a calorie-free, plant-based ingredient used in various food applications. Its potent sweetness and flavor-enhancing abilities make it a versatile additive across numerous product categories.

Quick Summary

Thaumatin is a protein sweetener from the katemfe fruit, primarily used commercially as a food additive (E957) in processed foods like drinks, dairy, and baked goods, but is not naturally present in most common fruits.

Key Points

Natural Source: The thaumatin sweetener is exclusively derived from the fleshy aril of the katemfe fruit, a West African plant (Thaumatococcus daniellii).
Commercial Applications: As a commercial food additive (E957), thaumatin is added to a wide range of processed foods and drinks, including beverages, baked goods, and dairy products.
Sweetening Power: Thaumatin provides an intense sweetness that is up to 3,000 times stronger than table sugar, meaning only minute quantities are needed.
Flavor Enhancer: Beyond its sweetness, thaumatin is valued for its ability to modify and enhance existing flavors, as well as mask bitter notes.
Distinction from Allergens: Do not confuse the commercial thaumatin sweetener with thaumatin-like proteins (TLPs) found in common fruits like apples and peaches, which can be allergens.
Low Calorie Profile: Because so little is needed, thaumatin adds a negligible number of calories to food products, despite being a protein.

The Primary Natural Source of Thaumatin: The Katemfe Fruit

The thaumatin protein originates from the aril of the West African katemfe fruit (Thaumatococcus daniellii). This fruit has been traditionally used in West Africa to sweeten foods and beverages. Thaumatin is known for its intense sweetness, which is significantly greater than that of table sugar, requiring only a small amount to achieve a sweetening effect.

Traditional and Modern Use of Katemfe

Historically, the katemfe fruit was used directly for its sweetness. Today, the food industry extracts and purifies the thaumatin protein to create a concentrated sweetener, often labeled as E957, for use in a wide range of products.

Commercial Foods and Products with Added Thaumatin

Thaumatin functions as both a sweetener and a flavor enhancer, capable of improving existing flavors and masking undesirable ones, such as bitterness. It is stable under heat, making it suitable for various food processing applications. Thaumatin may appear on ingredient lists as 'thaumatin' or 'E957'.

Beverages:

Diet and flavored drinks
Protein and meal replacement shakes

Baked Goods and Confectionery:

Low-sugar baked items
Jams and fruit fillings
Chewing gum and chocolate

Dairy Products:

Flavored yogurts and dairy beverages
Dairy desserts

Other Processed Foods:

Frozen meals
Savory snacks
Cereals and spreads
Pharmaceuticals for taste masking

Thaumatin-like Proteins vs. The Thaumatin Sweetener

It is important to distinguish the commercial sweetener, thaumatin, from thaumatin-like proteins (TLPs). TLPs are a group of allergenic proteins found in many common fruits and can cause allergic reactions.

Foods containing known TLPs (potential allergens):

Apple (Mal d 2)
Peach (Pru p 2)
Cherry (Pru av 2)
Kiwi (Act d 2)
Banana (Mus a 4)
Bell Pepper (Cap a 1)

This list highlights foods with allergenic TLPs, not foods containing the thaumatin sweetener. The commercial sweetener undergoes purification and safety assessments.

Comparison of Thaumatin and Other Sweeteners


Feature	Thaumatin (E957)	Stevia	Sucrose (Sugar)
Source	West African katemfe fruit	Stevia plant (Stevia rebaudiana)	Sugarcane and sugar beets
Sweetness	~2,000-3,000x sweeter than sugar	~200-300x sweeter than sugar	Standard reference (1x)
Calories	Technically 4 kcal/g, but usage is negligible	Zero calorie	4 kcal/g
Aftertaste	Slight, lingering licorice-like taste	Can have a bitter or metallic aftertaste	None
Usage	Sweetener and flavor enhancer	Sweetener	Sweetener, bulking agent
Metabolism	Protein, digested normally	Not a carbohydrate; passes largely undigested	Simple carbohydrate
Diabetic Friendly	Yes, zero glycemic index	Yes, zero glycemic index	No, raises blood sugar

Conclusion

The thaumatin sweetener is derived exclusively from the katemfe fruit. It is widely used in manufactured foods like diet drinks, confectionery, and dairy products due to its intense sweetness and flavor-enhancing capabilities. Products containing it are identified on ingredient lists by 'thaumatin' or 'E957'. It is crucial not to confuse the sweetener with allergenic thaumatin-like proteins found in common fruits. Thaumatin is a low-calorie protein-based sweetener offering a sugar alternative. For further details on food additives, consult resources like the International Sweeteners Association.

International Sweeteners Association

Frequently Asked Questions

No, the thaumatin protein used as a commercial sweetener is only found naturally in the katemfe fruit. However, some other fruits contain a different, but structurally similar, family of allergenic proteins known as thaumatin-like proteins (TLPs).

Thaumatin is added to foods as an intensely sweet, protein-based additive (E957) or a flavor enhancer. Its primary roles are to provide sweetness, improve flavor profiles, and mask off-tastes without adding significant calories.

Thaumatin is generally stable under typical processing conditions, including moderate heat. However, some studies indicate that higher temperatures (above 75°C) or very low pH levels can affect its sweetening power, although its flavor-enhancing effects remain.

Yes. As a protein, thaumatin contains 4 calories per gram, but it is so intensely sweet that the amount required to sweeten a product is minimal. This means its caloric contribution to the final food item is negligible, making it effectively a calorie-free sweetener.

Thaumatin is known for having a slight, lingering, licorice-like aftertaste. This is why it is often combined with other sweeteners to create a more balanced and complete flavor profile.

While both are natural, non-caloric sweeteners, they come from different plants and have distinct taste profiles. Thaumatin is a protein from the katemfe fruit, while stevia is a glycoside from the stevia plant. Stevia can have a more bitter aftertaste, while thaumatin's is often described as licorice-like.

Yes, thaumatin has been evaluated and approved for use as a food additive by major regulatory bodies, including the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). It is metabolized by the body as a protein.