Which of the following is a high potency sweetner ?

Question

Accepted Answer

Option 2, Alitame, is the correct answer as a high potency sweetener. Here's a detailed explanation supporting this choice:

1. **Alitame**: Alitame is a high potency sweetener that is approximately 2,000 times sweeter than sucrose (table sugar). It is a dipeptide-based sweetener, composed of L-aspartic acid, D-alanine, and a novel amine. Its high sweetness potency allows it to be used in very small amounts, making it an effective sweetener for reducing caloric intake while maintaining sweetness in food and beverages. Alitame's stability under a wide range of temperatures and pH levels makes it suitable for various applications, including baked goods and beverages.

2. **Sucralose**: While sucralose is indeed a high potency sweetener, being about 600 times sweeter than sucrose, it is not as potent as Alitame. Sucralose is a chlorinated derivative of sucrose and is known for its stability under heat, making it suitable for cooking and baking. However, in the context of this question, Alitame's higher sweetness potency justifies its selection as the correct answer.

3. **Saccharin**: Saccharin is another high potency sweetener, approximately 300 to 400 times sweeter than sucrose. It has been used for many years as a sugar substitute. However, its sweetness potency is significantly lower than that of Alitame, which is why it is not the correct answer in this context.

4. **Aspartame**: Aspartame is about 200 times sweeter than sucrose and is widely used in diet sodas and other low-calorie products. It is a dipeptide composed of aspartic acid and phenylalanine. Despite its popularity, its sweetness potency is much lower than that of Alitame, making it an incorrect choice for this question.

In conclusion, Alitame's exceptional sweetness potency of approximately 2,000 times that of sucrose makes it the correct answer as a high potency sweetener, surpassing the sweetness levels of sucralose, saccharin, and aspartame.