Lugduname

Lugduname (from lat. Lugdunum for Lyons) is one of the most potent sweetening agents known. Lugduname has been estimated to be between 220,000 and 300,000 times as sweet as sucrose (table sugar), with estimates varying between studies. It was developed at the University of Lyon in 1996. Lugduname is part of a family of extremely potent sweeteners which contain acetic acid functional groups attached to guanidine. It has not yet been approved for use in foods. A reference for this substance is found on page 17 of the August 4, 2014 issue of Chemical & Engineering News. The same article is available at http://cen.acs.org/articles/92/i31/Case-Against-Sugar.html.