Sodium cyclamate is an artificial sweetener that is roughly 30–50 times sweeter than sucrose, widely used as a low-calorie sugar substitute in foods and beverages. It was first discovered in 1937 by American chemist Michael Sveda while working at Abbott Laboratories, who accidentally synthesized it while searching for new sulfonamide compounds. Cyclamate gained popularity in the 1950s and 1960s due to its stability under heat and its ability to mask bitter flavors, making it ideal for tabletop sweeteners and diet products. However, in 1969, studies in the United States raised concerns about its potential carcinogenicity in laboratory rats, leading to its ban by the FDA, though it remains approved and widely used in many other countries.
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