Sweetener

The term 'sweetener' is a vague label applied to a wide range of compounds used to provide sweetness in foods and beverages. It may refer to sugar, artificial sweeteners (such as sucralose, aspartame, or acesulfame K), sugar alcohols (like erythritol or xylitol), or even natural calorie-free options (like stevia or monk fruit). When unspecified, it commonly indicates the use of artificial or highly processed substances.