Saccharin sodium is a type of artificial or nonnutritive sweetener. It is 200 to 700 times sweeter than sucrose but has a bitter aftertaste. Saccharin and its salts do not occur naturally. Saccharin sodium is used in the production of various foods and pharmaceutical products including soft drinks, candy, biscuits, jams, chewing gum, tinned fruit, medicine and toothpaste.