Aspartame is an artificial sweetener that has been used as a sugar substitute for several decades. It is also known by the brand names NutraSweet and Equal, and is used in a wide range of products including soft drinks, chewing gum, candy, desserts, and many other foods and beverages. Aspartame is a popular sweetener because it is much sweeter than sugar, yet contains fewer calories.
Aspartame was discovered in 1965 by a chemist named James Schlatter, who was working for the pharmaceutical company G.D. Searle & Co. While researching a new drug for ulcers, Schlatter accidentally tasted a substance he had synthesized and found it to be sweet. This substance turned out to be aspartame, and it was later approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use as a sweetener in 1981.
Aspartame is made up of two amino acids, phenylalanine and aspartic acid, which are linked together with a molecule of methanol. When consumed, aspartame is broken down into these individual components, which are then metabolized by the body. The methanol component of aspartame is broken down into formaldehyde and formic acid, both of which are toxic in large amounts. However, the amounts of these compounds that are produced by the breakdown of aspartame are very small and are considered to be safe.
