Education on the Use of Saccharin as an Artificial Sweetener among Elementary School Students

Abstract

Artificial sweeteners are widely used in food and beverage products; therefore, knowledge regarding their appropriate and safe consumption should be introduced from an early age. Saccharin is an artificial sweetener with a higher sweetness intensity than sucrose, and its use should comply with established safety limits. This community service activity aimed to improve elementary school students’ knowledge of saccharin as an artificial sweetener and promote awareness of the appropriate consumption of foods and beverages containing sweeteners. The activity was conducted through an educational session covering the definition, function, use, and safety aspects of saccharin. Participants’ knowledge was evaluated using a pretest administered before the educational session and a posttest administered afterward. The results demonstrated an increase in the students’ mean knowledge score from 58 on the pretest to 87 on the posttest, representing an improvement of 29 points. Following the educational activity, most students were able to explain the definition of saccharin, its function as an artificial sweetener, and the importance of consuming foods and beverages containing sweeteners within recommended limits. These findings indicate that the educational activity effectively improved students’ knowledge regarding saccharin and its appropriate use. Therefore, education on artificial sweeteners among elementary school students may serve as an approach to improving food safety literacy and promoting informed food consumption.