Acesulfame Potassium (Ace-K) vs BHT (Butylated Hydroxytoluene) — Which Is Worse?

FactorAcesulfame Potassium (Ace-K)BHT (Butylated Hydroxytoluene)
E-NumberE950E321
CategorySweetenerPreservative
SeverityModerate Risk (6/10)High Risk (8/10)
FDA StatusFDA-approved in 1988 for specific uses and as a general-purpose sweetener in 2003. ADI: 15 mg/kg body weight/day. FDA re…FDA classifies BHT as GRAS at levels up to 0.02% of the fat content of food (21 CFR 182.3173).
EFSA StatusEFSA re-evaluated in 2000 and maintained approval with an ADI of 9 mg/kg body weight/day. EFSA concluded that Ace-K is n…EFSA set an ADI of 0.25 mg/kg body weight/day in 2012. Approved in the EU with restricted usage levels.
Banned In—Japan Romania Sweden Australia
Products Found486502

Key Differences

Health Concerns Comparison

Acesulfame Potassium (Ace-K)

BHT (Butylated Hydroxytoluene)

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Which Products Use Each?

486
products contain Acesulfame Potassium (Ace-K)
502
products contain BHT (Butylated Hydroxytoluene)

⚖️ The Verdict

Based on severity scores, BHT (Butylated Hydroxytoluene) (8/10) poses a higher risk than Acesulfame Potassium (Ace-K) (6/10).

Both ingredients should be consumed mindfully. Use CheckIt AI to scan products and avoid whichever ones concern you most.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Acesulfame Potassium (Ace-K) or BHT (Butylated Hydroxytoluene) worse?
BHT (Butylated Hydroxytoluene) has a higher severity score (8/10) compared to Acesulfame Potassium (Ace-K) (6/10), making it the more concerning ingredient based on current regulatory and scientific data.
What is the difference between Acesulfame Potassium (Ace-K) and BHT (Butylated Hydroxytoluene)?
Acesulfame Potassium (Ace-K) is a sweetener, while BHT (Butylated Hydroxytoluene) is a preservative. They serve different functions in food products.
Are Acesulfame Potassium (Ace-K) and BHT (Butylated Hydroxytoluene) banned?
Acesulfame Potassium (Ace-K) is not currently banned in any major market. BHT (Butylated Hydroxytoluene) is banned in Japan, Romania, Sweden, Australia.
How can I avoid both Acesulfame Potassium (Ace-K) and BHT (Butylated Hydroxytoluene)?
Download CheckIt AI and scan any product's barcode or ingredient label. The app will flag both Acesulfame Potassium (Ace-K) and BHT (Butylated Hydroxytoluene) and suggest safer alternatives.
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Related Pages

Related Comparisons

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Acesulfame Potassium (Ace-K) Deep Dive BHT (Butylated Hydroxytoluene) Deep Dive All 180 Comparisons All Ingredients Ingredients Banned in Europe Scoring Methodology

⚕️ This comparison is for educational purposes only. It is not medical advice. Consult a healthcare professional for personalized dietary guidance.

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📋 Cite This Data
APACheckIt AI. (2026). "Acesulfame Potassium (Ace-K) vs BHT (Butylated Hydroxytoluene) — Which Is Worse? | CheckIt AI". Climaverse PBC. Retrieved from https://getcheck.it/ingredients/acesulfame-potassium-vs-bht
MLA"Acesulfame Potassium (Ace-K) vs BHT (Butylated Hydroxytoluene) — Which Is Worse? | CheckIt AI." CheckIt AI, Climaverse PBC, 2026-04-16. https://getcheck.it/ingredients/acesulfame-potassium-vs-bht.
HTML Embed<a href="https://getcheck.it/ingredients/acesulfame-potassium-vs-bht">Acesulfame Potassium (Ace-K) vs BHT (Butylated Hydroxytoluene) — Which Is Worse? | CheckIt AI — CheckIt AI</a>
BibTeX@misc{checkit2026ingredientsacesulfamepotassiumvsbht, title = {Acesulfame Potassium (Ace-K) vs BHT (Butylated Hydroxytoluene) — Which Is Worse? | CheckIt AI}, author = {CheckIt AI}, year = {2026}, publisher = {Climaverse PBC}, url = {https://getcheck.it/ingredients/acesulfame-potassium-vs-bht}, note = {Retrieved 2026-04-16} }