What is E969?

Complete guide to understanding E969 (Advantame) in your food

The Quick Answer

E969 is a synthetic ultra-high-potency artificial sweetener derived from aspartame and vanillin that provides zero calories.

It’s used in sugar-free beverages, confectionery, dairy products, and baked goods as a replacement for sugar.

It is relatively new (approved 2013 EU, 2014 FDA) with limited long-term safety data in humans, but current regulatory assessments conclude it is safe—though long-term studies remain limited due to recent approval.

What Exactly Is It?

E969 is a synthetic ultra-high-potency sweetener developed by Ajinomoto, created by chemically modifying aspartame with a vanillin derivative.

Its chemical name is N-[N-[3-(3-hydroxy-4-methoxyphenyl)propyl]-α-L-aspartyl]-L-phenylalanine 1-methyl ester.

It appears as a white to off-white crystalline powder that is water-soluble and stable across a wide pH and temperature range (heat-stable up to 240°C).

E969 is produced by synthesizing aspartame with 3-hydroxy-4-methoxyphenylpropyl (HMPA) groups derived from vanillin. The vanillin is transformed in four steps to HMPA, which is then attached to the aspartame backbone.

Structurally, E969 is an N-substituted aspartame derivative—not a separate class of sweetener, but rather an aspartame analog designed to overcome aspartame’s limitations (shorter sweetness duration, heat sensitivity).

Where You’ll Find It

E969 appears in sugar-free and low-calorie products:

• Sugar-free and diet soft drinks
• Sugar-free confectionery and candies
• Chewing gum (particularly sugar-free varieties)
• Flavored drinks and juice drinks
• Dairy products (yogurt, pudding, desserts)
• Sugar-free baked goods and cakes
• Jams and preserves (sugar-free)
• Milk products (ice cream, frozen yogurt)
• Flavor enhancer in various foods
• Tabletop sweetener packets
• Diet and weight-management products

E969 is less commonly found than older sweeteners like aspartame or sucralose due to its recent approval (2013/2014).

Why Do Food Companies Use It?

E969 serves critical functions in sugar-free product development:

Extreme sweetness potency: At 20,000–37,000 times sweeter than sugar, E969 enables use in minuscule quantities, reducing aftertastes and off-flavors. You need far less E969 than aspartame to achieve sweetness.
Heat stability: Unlike aspartame (which loses sweetness at high temperatures), E969 is stable up to 240°C (464°F), enabling use in baked goods and hot beverages without sweetness loss.
pH stability: Works across wide pH range without degradation.
Clean taste profile: Despite being aspartame-derived, E969 has a cleaner, more sugar-like taste with less of the metallic/bitter aftertaste that some people experience with aspartame.
Cost-effective: Ultra-high potency means minimal usage, reducing formulation costs despite higher per-unit price.
Regulatory approval: Approved globally (FDA, EU, Australia) with positive safety assessments, reducing manufacturer liability concerns.

Is It Safe?

E969 is officially approved by FDA and EFSA with regulatory assessments concluding it is safe, though it is a relatively new additive (approved 2013/2014) with limited long-term human safety data compared to older sweeteners with decades of use history.

The FDA approves E969 as a non-nutritive sweetener and flavor enhancer (except in meat/poultry) with an ADI of 32.8 mg/kg body weight per day.

The EFSA approved E969 in July 2013 with an ADI of 5 mg/kg body weight per day.

JECFA (WHO Expert Committee) also evaluated E969 positively in 2013.

The Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) ranks E969 as safe and generally recognized as safe (GRAS).

What Are The Health Concerns?

E969 has minimal documented health concerns based on available regulatory testing, but some considerations exist:

Phenylalanine content (aspartame-derived concern): Because E969 is derived from aspartame, it contains phenylalanine and generates phenylalanine when metabolized. This requires a warning label for individuals with phenylketonuria (PKU). However, regulatory assessments confirm that normal use does not result in phenylalanine levels of concern for PKU sufferers.
Potential metabolite compounds: E969 metabolizes in the body, producing metabolites that are not fully characterized. However, animal studies showed no toxicity from metabolites at high doses.
Gut microbiota effects (theoretical concern): Like most synthetic sweeteners, E969 may alter gut bacterial composition, though specific research on E969’s microbiome effects is limited. A 2019 scientific review noted this as a potential concern for all sweeteners, but E969-specific data is sparse.
Type 2 diabetes impact: Regulatory assessment concludes no adverse effects in type 2 diabetics, though some studies suggest artificial sweeteners may not provide weight loss benefits some consumers expect.
Long-term human safety data gaps: Due to recent approval, definitive long-term safety data (20+ years) is not available. This is not a proven concern, but rather a data limitation inherent to new additives.
No genotoxicity or carcinogenicity: Regulatory testing shows no genetic damage or cancer potential at approved levels.

Natural vs Synthetic Version

E969 is entirely synthetic—there is no natural form.

It’s produced through chemical synthesis using aspartame and vanillin as starting materials, then subjecting them to a multi-step chemical transformation.

Natural Alternatives

Want to avoid E969?

Natural sweeteners include:

• Stevia (E960) – natural extract from stevia plant (300–500× sweetness of sugar)
• Monk fruit (Luo Han Guo) – natural sweetener (150–200× sweetness of sugar)
• Sugar alcohols (xylitol E967, erythritol) – partially natural, partial calorie reduction
• Honey or maple syrup – natural alternatives with trace nutrients and calories
• Regular sugar – accept higher calories and glycemic impact
• Allulose – rare sugar (pending approval in many regions)

The Bottom Line

E969 (Advantame) is a synthetic ultra-high-potency sweetener derived from aspartame that is officially approved by FDA and EFSA with regulatory assessments concluding it is safe, though it is a relatively new additive (approved 2013/2014) with limited long-term human safety data compared to sweeteners with decades of use history.

Safety Assessment: Current regulatory data supports safety at approved intake levels. No genotoxicity, carcinogenicity, or major reproductive/developmental toxicity documented in animal studies.

Differentiation from Aspartame: E969 overcomes aspartame’s weaknesses (heat sensitivity, shorter sweetness duration, off-flavors). It is heat-stable, longer-lasting, and has a cleaner taste profile.

Key Limitation: E969 is a new additive (~10–12 years of real-world use) compared to aspartame (60+ years) or sucralose (30+ years). Long-term human safety observations (20+ years) are not available. This is not a proven safety concern but reflects inherent limitations of approving new chemicals.

Phenylalanine Consideration: Due to aspartame derivation, E969 contains/produces phenylalanine and requires warning labels for PKU sufferers. However, regulatory assessment confirms normal use is safe even for PKU patients.

Potential Concern – Microbiome Effects: Like all synthetic sweeteners, E969 may alter gut bacterial composition, though E969-specific research is limited. This is a general concern for the sweetener class, not unique to E969.

Cost-Benefit: E969’s extreme potency and heat stability provide genuine functional benefits in food formulation. For consumers seeking sugar-free options without artificial sweetener off-flavors, E969 may offer advantages over other synthetic sweeteners.

If You Want to Minimize Exposure: Avoid ultra-sweet zero-calorie beverages and products. Choose naturally sweetened options (stevia, monk fruit, honey) or accept calories from regular sugar.

For Most People: Current regulatory assessments support E969 safety at approved levels. However, given its recent approval and limited long-term human data, moderate consumption and reliance on whole foods rather than heavily sweetened products remains prudent.