E961 (Neotame) is a methyl dipeptide ester and is obtained by a chemoenzymatic reaction process between 3,3-dimethylbutyraldehyde and aspartame. The resulting product is then purified, subjected to drying and subsequent grinding.

It appears in the form of a white powder. 

What it is used for and where

Food

Ingredient listed in the European food additives list as E961 as a sweetener without calories. Its use is permitted in almost all food products with the exception of meat products (1). It is 40 times sweeter than aspartame and thousands of times sweeter than sucrose.

Safety

Neotame does not accumulate in the body as it is completely eliminated and metabolised in the human body (2). It is an ingredient deemed safe and approved by the FDA in 2002.

Cosmetics

Flavoring agent. The purpose of this ingredient is to modify the solution to impart a certain flavour. Natural flavouring extracts are rather expensive, so the cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries resort to synthesised substances that have sensory characteristics mostly similar to natural flavourings or are naturally equivalent. This ingredient is isolated through chemical processes or is synthesised from chemicals. It is also referred to as Aroma.

• Molecular Formula  C₂₀H₃₀N₂O₅   
• Molecular Weight     378.5 
• CAS  165450-17-9
• UNII    VJ597D52EX
• EC Number   605-408-8

References_____________________________________________________________________

(1) Tkach, V.V., Kushnir, M.V., Ivanushko, Y.G., De Oliveira, S.C., dos Reis, L.V., Yagodynets, P.I. and Kormosh, Z.O., 2020. The theoretical description for neotame electrochemical determination, assisted by vanadium oxyhydroxide composite with a squarainic dye. Applied Journal of Environmental Engineering Science, 6(2), pp.6-2.

(2) Chattopadhyay, S., Raychaudhuri, U. and Chakraborty, R., 2014. Artificial sweeteners–a review. Journal of food science and technology, 51, pp.611-621.