Debitterant

Gluconates have a unique impact on taste perception. When used with artificial sweeteners (e.g. saccharine, cyclamates and aspartame ) it acts as a debitterant.

Sodium gluconate is sometimes used as an ingredient in sugar replacement packets and diet beverages. The artificial sweetener, Aspartame, when used alone has a defect in that its sweetness is slightly delayed in onset and tends to remain longer on the tongue. The gustatory quality of aspartame is improved to be more like sucrose with the addition of sodium gluconate.