The 3-substituted 2,4,6-trihalogenated benzamides having the formula I ##STR1## wherein Hal is chlorine, bromine, or iodine andZ is a carboxyl group or the group ##STR2## wherein P is 1 and L is 0 or 1, with the proviso that L is 0 when K is 0;K is 0, 2, 3 or 4;M is 0, 1, 2 or 3;N is 0 or 1;X is a hydrogen atom;Y is a hydrogen atom or a lower alkyl group of 1-4 carbon atoms, or when either M or N is other than 0, a hydroxy group, a C.sub.1-6 alkoxy group or a C.sub.1-4 acyloxy group, or when N is 1 and M is other than 0, X and Y together represent an additional carbon-carbon bond; orP and L are each 0;K is 0, 2, 3 or 4;M is 0, 1, 2 or 3;N is 0 or 1;X is a hydrogen atom;Y is a hydrogen atom, a lower alkyl group of 1-4 carbon atoms, a hydroxy group, a C.sub.1-6 alkoxy group, a C.sub.1-4 acyloxy group or, when N is 1, X and Y together represent an additional carbon-carbon bond; and salts thereof with inorganic bases, exhibit an extraordinarily high sweetening power and are excellent substitutes for natural sweetening agents.