Allervibe
E951
Aspartame
A low-calorie artificial sweetener made from two amino acids.
i Additive Details
| Is E951 Aspartame safe?
People with phenylketonuria (PKU) must avoid aspartame because they cannot metabolize phenylalanine. Products in many markets must carry the warning 'contains a source of phenylalanine'. The WHO's IARC classified aspartame as 'possibly carcinogenic to humans' (Group 2B) in 2023; the FAO/WHO JECFA kept its ADI unchanged that same year.
| Uses
Sweetens diet soft drinks, sugar-free chewing gum, sugar-free yogurt, low-calorie desserts, tabletop sweeteners (such as Canderel and NutraSweet), and some medications. About 200 times sweeter than sugar.
| Interactions
Breaks down at high temperatures (above about 80 °C), so it is unsuitable for baking. Decomposes in the body to aspartic acid, phenylalanine, and methanol, all of which are present in much larger amounts in many ordinary foods.
| Origin
Synthetic. Produced by chemically joining aspartic acid and phenylalanine (both naturally occurring amino acids) into a methylated dipeptide.
| Daily Intake
EFSA's ADI is 40 mg per kg of body weight per day. The FDA's ADI is 50 mg per kg. The JECFA reaffirmed 40 mg per kg in 2023.
Information is sourced from public regulatory bodies (EFSA, FDA, WHO) and is for reference only. Always read the package and consult a healthcare professional for medical advice.
Related additives
- E955 Sucralose A heat-stable artificial sweetener about 600 times sweeter than sugar.
- E950 Acesulfame K A calorie-free artificial sweetener about 200 times sweeter than sugar.
- E952 Cyclamates A synthetic sweetener 30 to 50 times sweeter than sugar, authorised in the EU but not in the United States.
- E954 Saccharin The oldest artificial sweetener, roughly 300 to 500 times sweeter than sugar.
- E960 Steviol glycosides Plant-derived sweeteners extracted from stevia leaves, about 200 to 350 times sweeter than sugar.
- E965 Maltitol A sugar alcohol used as a bulk sweetener, almost as sweet as sugar.
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