Artificial sweeteners are synthetic substances used to replace sugar in foods and beverages. Typically, they are much sweeter than sugar, have few or no calories. They are widely used by dieters and people afflicted with diabetes. Saccharin, cyclamates, and aspartame are the three widely used artificial sweeteners.

Saccharin was the first true artificial sweetener invented. It was discovered in 1879 by two chemists at Johns Hopkins University, the German Constantin Fahlberg (1850-1910) and the American Ira Remsen (1846-1927). While investigating the derivatives of toluene, an ingredient found in coal tar, the scientists noticed a sweet taste on their hands. They then traced toluene back to a new compound that was 300 to 500 times sweeter than sugar. Saccharin came on the market in the early 1900s. Doubts about its safety soon arose however, and it was banned in 1912. It reappeared during the sugar shortages of World War I. In...