proposed amendment to the food and drug regulations 1433 - neotame available in english and french 5pages high intensity sweeteners used in the manufacture of foods are considered under the food and drug regulations to be food additives. the high intensity sweeteners permitted under the food and drug regulations are aspartame sucralose and acesulfame-potassium. health canada has received a submission to amend the food and drug regulations to permit the use of neotame a substance that is 7 000 to 13 000 times sweeter than sugar. neotame would be used as a high intensity sweetener in carbonated soft drinks beverage concentrates beverage mixes powdered soft drinks pre-sweetened cocoa or coffee mixes unstandardized dairy beverages unstandardized fruit juices breakfast cereals dessert mixes toppings topping mixes fillings filling mixes unstandardized desserts yogurt confectionery glazes for snack foods sweetened seasonings or coating mixes for snack foods confections including candies and their coatings chewing gum breath freshener products unstandardized fruit spreads purees sauces unstandardized table syrups unstandardized salad dressings peanut and other nut spreads condiments unstandardized baked goods baking mixes and as a table-to sweetener at maximum levels of use specified in the proposed amendments. evaluation of available data supports the safety and effectiveness of these uses of neotame. under the current regulations all foods including those that are table-to sweeteners that contain aspartame acesulfame-potassium or sucralose must carry a statement on the principal display panel to the effect that the food contains or is sweetened with the sweetener. for foods carrying a nutrition facts table the sweetener content expressed in milligrams per serving of stated size must be declared on their labels. in the case where the label of the food does not carry a nutrition facts table information on the energy value expressed in calories or kilojoules the protein fat and carbohydrate content expressed in grams per serving of stated size and the sweetener content expressed in milligrams per serving of stated size must be provided on any part of the label grouped with the list of ingredients. the same requirements are proposed for foods containing neotame. therefore it is the intention of health canada to recommend that the food and drug regulations be amended to permit the use of neotame in the above-named foods at the specified maximum levels of use and to require that the label of a food containing neotame carries the information indicated above. this document has also been notified under the tbt agreement