Scientific Facts on the Aspertame artificial sweetener

The consumption of aspertame in Europe is estimated to be between 2.8 and 10.1 mg/kg body weight per day.

Aspertame is a non-caloric artificial sweetener used in many diet drinks and foods. Although this artificial sweetener has been widely used for many years, some allegations still fuel a debate on possible side effects.

Does aspertame really pose health risks?

1. What is the aspertame sweetener?

1. The aspertame sweetener is a non caloric sweetener. It was discovered in 1965 and entered the market in the 80’s. A number of national and international organizations have assessed the safety of the aspertame sweetener and an international committee of experts established an Acceptable Daily Intake value. However, some allegations of health risks have launched a debate. More on the history of aspertame...
2. The aspertame sweetener is a white, odourless powder, approximately 200 times sweeter than sugar, used in a number of foodstuffs throughout the world. It is marketed under several brand names, including Canderel® and NutraSweet®, and is labelled E951 in Europe. The aspertame sweetener is stable when dry or frozen but it breaks down and loses its sweetness over time when heated and therefore can not be used in cooked or sterilized foods. More on the uses and properties of aspertame...
3. Some concerns have been raised about the aspertame sweetener and its breakdown products. For example, it has been suggested that the aspertame sweetener may cause headaches, epilepsy and brain tumors. More on the concerns raised by aspertame...

Next question: How much aspertame sweetener do people consume?

Note that the proper spelling for Aspertame is Aspartame.