Sodium saccharin can be more acceptable to rats than pure saccharin

The artificial sweetener saccharin is available in several forms, including pure saccharin (S) and saccharin sodium salt hydrate (SSSH). Acceptance and preference relative to 2% sucrose for these two forms was assessed using both older female and young male rats. At the higher of two concentrations, ∼0.4%, SSSH was more acceptable and more greatly preferred over 2% sucrose than was a similar concentration of S, whereas little difference between the two forms was detected at the lower concentration, ∼0.1%. These results indicate the importance for researchers of care in choosing and reporting the form of saccharin they use.