Baby Safety / Compounds / Sodium cyclamate (cyclamate)

Is Sodium cyclamate (cyclamate) safe for babies and kids?

Moderate risk for kids

Infants face elevated exposure to Sodium cyclamate (cyclamate) through formula, baby food, and breast milk contamination. Immature hepatic metabolism and higher intake-to-body-weight ratio amplify dose.

What is sodium cyclamate (cyclamate)?

The IUPAC name is sodium N-cyclohexylsulfamate.

Also known as: sodium N-cyclohexylsulfamate, SODIUM CYCLAMATE, Sucaryl sodium, Cyclamate sodium.

IUPAC name
sodium N-cyclohexylsulfamate
CAS number
139-05-9
Molecular formula
C6H12NNaO3S
Molecular weight
201.22 g/mol
SMILES
C1CCC(CC1)NS(=O)(=O)[O-].[Na+]
PubChem CID
23665706

Risk for babies

Moderate risk

Infants face elevated exposure to Sodium cyclamate (cyclamate) through formula, baby food, and breast milk contamination. Immature hepatic metabolism and higher intake-to-body-weight ratio amplify dose.

Neonates and infants up to 12 months have incomplete blood-brain barrier development, immature Phase I/II metabolic enzymes (particularly CYP3A4, UGT1A1), and higher gastrointestinal permeability. Equivalent doses produce higher internal concentrations and longer residence times.

What to do: Minimize infant exposure through source control. For breastfeeding mothers: reduce maternal exposure. For formula-fed infants: use certified low-migration bottles and verified water sources. Consult pediatrician regarding any concerns.

Risk for pregnant and nursing people

Context-dependent

Pregnancy alters metabolism and increases susceptibility to Sodium cyclamate (cyclamate). Dietary additives consumed during pregnancy cross the placenta; safety margins for adults may not protect the developing fetus.

No specific reproductive toxicity data identified, but pregnancy-specific safety data is limited for most chemicals. Precautionary minimization of exposure is recommended.

What to do: Minimize exposure during pregnancy and lactation. Consult healthcare provider regarding specific risks. Consider alternative products with lower hazard profiles.

Regulatory consensus

3 regulatory and scientific bodies have classified Sodium cyclamate (cyclamate). The classifications differ — that's the data.

AgencyYearClassificationNotes
EPA CTX / IARC—Group 3 - Not classifiable as to its carcinogenicity to humans
EPA CTX / Genetox—Genotoxicity: negative (Ames: negative, 0 positive / 6 negative reports)
EPA CTX / Genetox—Genotoxicity: negative (Ames: negative, 0 positive / 6 negative reports)

Regulators apply different standards of evidence — animal-data weighting, exposure-pattern assumptions, epidemiological power thresholds — which is why two scientific bodies can review the same data and reach different conclusions. The disagreement is the data.

Where kids encounter sodium cyclamate (cyclamate)

  • Industrial Facilities — Manufacturing plants, Chemical storage areas, Waste treatment sites
  • Occupational Environments — Factories, Warehouses, Transportation vehicles
  • Food — processed food, beverages, candy, baked goods

Safer alternatives

Lower-risk approaches that achieve a similar outcome to Sodium cyclamate (cyclamate):

  • Natural preservatives; Clean-label ingredients; Minimally processed food
    Trade-offs: Consumer label appeal ('clean label'); variable efficacy depending on food matrix and target pathogen; may alter flavor/color; regulatory status varies by jurisdiction; often more expensive per unit of preservation effect.
    Relative cost: 2-5× conventional

Frequently asked questions

Is sodium cyclamate (cyclamate) safe for kids?

Infants face elevated exposure to Sodium cyclamate (cyclamate) through formula, baby food, and breast milk contamination. Immature hepatic metabolism and higher intake-to-body-weight ratio amplify dose.

What products contain sodium cyclamate (cyclamate)?

Sodium cyclamate (cyclamate) appears in: Manufacturing plants (Industrial facilities); Chemical storage areas (Industrial facilities); Factories (Occupational environments); Warehouses (Occupational environments); processed food (Food).

What should I do if my child is exposed to sodium cyclamate (cyclamate)?

Minimize infant exposure through source control. For breastfeeding mothers: reduce maternal exposure. For formula-fed infants: use certified low-migration bottles and verified water sources. Consult pediatrician regarding any concerns.

Why do regulators disagree about sodium cyclamate (cyclamate)?

Sodium cyclamate (cyclamate) has been classified by 3 agencies including EPA CTX / IARC, EPA CTX / Genetox, EPA CTX / Genetox, with differing conclusions. Regulators apply different standards of evidence (animal data weighting, exposure-pattern assumptions, epidemiological power thresholds), which is why two scientific bodies can review the same data and reach different conclusions. See the regulatory consensus table on this page for the full picture.

See Sodium cyclamate (cyclamate) in the baby app

Look up products containing sodium cyclamate (cyclamate), compare to alternatives, and explore the full data record.

Open in baby View raw API data

Sources (3)
  1. US FDA: Sodium Cyclamate — 1969 Prohibition Order, Bladder Tumor Rat Study Basis, Subsequent Petitions for Re-approval, and Current Banned Status in US Food Supply (2022 status update) (2022) — regulatory
  2. EFSA Panel on Food Additives: Re-evaluation of Cyclamate (E952) — ADI 7 mg/kg bw/day, Cyclohexylamine Metabolite Assessment, Safety Confirmation at Dietary Exposure Levels (EFSA Journal 2009;96) (2009) — regulatory
  3. WHO JECFA: Cyclamate and Sodium Cyclamate — Safety Evaluation, ADI 11 mg/kg bw/day (as cyclamic acid equivalent), Global Regulatory Status, and Repeated Confirmation of Safety at Permitted Use Levels (2019) (2019) — regulatory

Reference data, not professional advice. Aggregates publicly available regulatory and scientific data; not a substitute for veterinary, medical, legal, or regulatory advice. Why we built ALETHEIA →