Which of the following are examples of artificial sweeteners?

• A. Sucrose, Glucose
• B. Water and Ethanol
• C. Aspartame, Saccharin
• D. Flavoring and Colorant

Answer: (C)

Artificial sweeteners are synthetic compounds used to provide sweetness with little or no calories, often at much higher sweetness intensity than sugar. Aspartame and saccharin are classic examples because they are man-made substances designed specifically to taste sweet while contributing minimal energy to the product, making them common sugar substitutes in foods and medicines. In contrast, sucrose and glucose are natural sugars that supply calories and are not artificial. Water and ethanol are solvents and do not serve as sweetening agents. Flavoring and colorant are additives that modify taste or appearance but are not inherently sweeteners in the way these synthetic compounds are. So the two that illustrate artificial sweeteners are aspartame and saccharin.