Answer: Acesulfame potassium is a keto-friendly sugar alternative with very few carbs.
Acesulfame potassium is an artificial sweetener that is 200 times sweeter than sugar. It contains only 0.5 g of net carbs per half-gram serving, so it's a great way to make sweet desserts without packing on the carbs.
This sweetener may sound unfamiliar, but it appears in hundreds of popular products like Coke Zero and Orbit gum. Manufacturers sometimes refer to it on the label as "acesulfame K" or "ace-K."
If you have a sweet tooth, acesulfame K is a good alternative for sugar in baked desserts because it remains stable at high temperatures. Acesulfame potassium can be a little bitter, which is why many companies use it with other sweeteners. Similarly, many keto recipes recommend blending ace-K with other sweeteners like stevia, erythritol, or xylitol.
There's a debate in the keto community over whether artificial sweeteners like acesulfame potassium are compatible with the keto diet. The FDA stated that ace-K is safe for consumption, with over 90 studies supporting its safety. Many people consume acesulfame potassium with no negative side effects, but a minority experience sugar cravings and interruptions to ketosis.