NHDC was discovered during the 1960s as part of a United States Department of Agriculture research program to find methods for minimizing the taste of bitter flavorants in citrus juices.

Unlike aspartame, NHDC is stable to elevated temperatures and to acidic or basic conditions, and so can be used in applications that require a long shelf life.

The product is well known for having a strong synergistic effect when used in conjunction with other artificial sweeteners such as aspartame, saccharin, acesulfame potassium, and cyclamate, as well as sugar alcohols such as xylitol.

It is also listed as a generally recognized as safe (GRAS) flavour enhancer by the Flavor and Extract Manufacturers Association.

The FDA concluded that NHDC is GRAS (based on scientific procedures) for its intended use as a sweetener in various food categories at maximum levels of 10–1000 ppm.

Other products NHDC can be found in may include a wide variety of beverages, alcoholic and non-alcoholic, savoury foods, toothpaste, mouthwash and condiments such as ketchup and mayonnaise.