Which among the following compounds is not an artificial sweetener ?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 4
The correct answer is Option (4) → Sodium benzoate
Artificial sweetening agents are chemicals that taste sweet but add little or no energy, so they are used by diabetic and weight-conscious people. Aspartame, alitame, sucralose and saccharin are examples.
Sodium benzoate is not a sweetener. It is a food preservative: it prevents the growth of microorganisms in foods such as jams and squashes. So it is not an artificial sweetener.
Option (1) Aspartame — An artificial sweetener.
Option (2) Alitame — An artificial sweetener.
Option (3) Sucralose — An artificial sweetener.
Option (4) Sodium benzoate — Not an artificial sweetener (a food preservative).
Note: This question is from the pre-rationalised NCERT book (2022-23). The topic is not there in the latest NCERT book (2026-27), and it is also out of the CUET 2026 syllabus.
NCERT (Pre-rationalised edition, 2022-23):
Artificial Sweetening Agents – …
