Sweeteners Exposed: Aspartame
Alternative names: E-951, APM, sweetener (951), market names (e.g. Equal, NutraSweet, Canderel).
Use in food: Aspartame is an artificial sweetener, often used to replace sugar in food and drinks. About 180 times sweeter than sugar, aspartame only needs to be added in very small amounts to obtain desired sweetness. Its taste is only similar to the sweetness of sugar, and is often blended with other sweeteners (e.g. acesulfame potassium or saccharin) to achieve a more “sugar-y” taste.
As it is non-carbohydrate based and only used in very small amounts, aspartame contributes very few calories to food, and is mainly used in “diet” products. These include many carbonated soda drinks (diet and non-diet), ice cream, yogurts, cereals, chewing gum/ breath mints, ice teas, juices, instant milk drinks, confectionery, pharmaceutical drugs, vitamin supplements and as tabletop sweeteners for tea and coffee. (Aspartame information centre, 2006)
Aspartame breaks down at high heats or pH levels, and is therefore not often used in baked goods.
Controversy
This artificial sweetener has been the subject of intense controversy, in terms of its safety and the politics behind its approval. Aspartame has become the subject of conspiracy theories, urban myths and hoax websites (Emery, 1999), which often overshadow the real safety concerns of this additive. It remains one of the most frequently scrutinized additives currently used across the world.
Produced by pharmaceuticals company G.D. Searle (later acquired by Monsanto; currently a division of Pfizer), aspartame was first approved in the US in 1974, in dry foods only. Following concerns raised by anti-additive activists Turner and Dr. Olney, who claimed aspartame was linked to brain damage, multiple sclerosis and the development of tumors in animal models, the FDA banned the additive in 1975, pending review of its safety. In the early 1980s, a panel reviewed Olney’s claims and found them flawed, but requested further studies into the possible carcinogenic effects of aspartame. (Harkins, 2005)
In 1981, the FDA found reason to contradict the review panel’s decision to revoke approval of aspartame, and allowed its use again in dry foods, backed by several studies which found no link between aspartame and brain tumors (Ishii, 1980). This decision later fuelled accusations of conflict of interest when several key members of the FDA and their legal team later found employment with companies connected to Searle & Co (then headed by Donald Rumsfeld – who later became the Secretary of Defense under the Bush administration). (Harkins, 2005)
Subsequent studies into the safety of aspartame have since backed the decision to approve the additive, citing few substantiated links to rumored negative health effects. Its use has been approved in most countries. (US GAO, 1987; Magnuson et al, 2007; Marchione et al, 2006)
Benefits
The controversy surrounding aspartame has led to extensive testing for safety. The majority of independent studies (including those by the National Cancer Institute) have repeatedly found a lack of evidence that aspartame is unsafe for human consumption. (Lim et al, 2006)
The Aspartame Information Centre claims that in addition to providing a substitute for sugar, aspartame enhances and extends flavors, does not promote tooth decay, is a useful tool in weight reduction, and provides an alternative for people with diabetes. (Aspartame Information Centre, 2006)
Safety Concerns
While aspartame has been deemed safe if consumed in reasonable amounts (50 mg/kg Acceptable Daily Intake in US; 40 mg/kg ADI in Europe), many people still complain of adverse health effects which they claim are caused by the additive, including dizziness, headaches, seizures, blurred vision, rashes and hormonal imbalances (Hull). People often attribute these effects to the breakdown of aspartame into methanol (which may become formaldehyde), phenylalanine and aspartic acid. These claims, however, have yet to be proven.
Phenylalanine is a naturally-occurring amino acid also found in many meats and vegetables. This compound is toxic for people born with the rare, genetic disease phenylketonuria (PKU), and as such any products which contain aspartame must be labeled appropriately in the US and the UK. (Stegnik et al, 1990)
Although aspartame is often used in “diet” foods, some dietitians have expressed concern that it is linked to weight gain, possible due to spikes in insulin levels following aspartame consumption, although these claims are not backed by recent studies. (Smeets et al, 2005)
While aspartame is currently approved for consumption (within recommended daily allowances), many dietitians still recommend you should avoid it where possible. (Ephraim, 2002; 3,2,1recipes.com)Whether or not negative effects are caused by its breakdown into methanol, phenylalanine and aspartic acid, insulin spikes or other mechanisms, the fact remains that the foods it is added to usually contain additional substances which are detrimental to your health, or quest for weight loss. As usual, it is important to make your own, informed decisions, always read the labels of any food you consume and know what you are eating.
References
Aspartame information centre (2006) Benefits, products, facts, myths & experts. Viewed online June 2, 2009. Online: http://www.aspartame.org/aspartame_benefits.html
Emery, D (1999). Aspartame warning hoax letter. Viewed online on June 2, 2009. Online: http://urbanlegends.about.com/library/blasp.htm?p=1
Ephraim, R – nutrionist’s view (2002). Aspartame: Diet-astrous results. Viewed on June 2, 2009. Online: http://www.westonaprice.org/modernfood/aspartame.html
Harkins, D – from the Idaho Observer (2005) Rumsfeld’s disease: A politically-induced biochemical disaster of global proportions. Viewed on June 2, 2009. Online:
http://proliberty.com/observer/20050805.htm
Hull, J – creator of the aspartame detox progam .(2002) Aspartame side effects. Viewed on June 2, 2009. Online: http://www.sweetpoison.com/aspartame-side-effects.html
Lim et al (2006) Consumption of aspartame-containing beverages and incidence of hematopoietic and brain malignancies. Viewed online June 2, 2009. Online: http://cebp.aacrjournals.org/cgi/content/full/15/9/1654
Magnuson et. al (2007) Aspartame: A safety evaluation based on current use levels. Viewed online June 2, 2009. Online: http://www.informapharmascience.com/doi/abs/10.1080/10408440701516184
Ishii, H (1980) Incidence of brain tumors in rats fed aspartame. Viewed online June 2, 2009. Online: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6TCR-477XS0M-5T&_user=10&_rdoc=1&_fmt=&_orig=search&_sort=d&view=c&_acct=C000050221&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=10&md5=3ec2cba5807b768e63aec2f765cdcee7
Marchione, M – Seattlepi.com (2006) No cancer risk found in diet soda’s aspartame. Viewed online June 2 2009. Online: http://www.seattlepi.com/national/265559_soda05.html
Smeets et al. (2005) Functional magnetic resonance imaging of human hypothalamic responses to sweet taste and calories. Viewed online June 2, 2009. Online: http://www.ajcn.org/cgi/content/abstract/82/5/1011
Stegnik, et al. (1990) Repeated injestion of aspartame-sweetned beverages: further observations in individuals heterozygous for phenylketonuria. Viewed online June 2 2009. Online: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6WN4-4C2SBGH-1C5&_user=10&_rdoc=1&_fmt=&_orig=search&_sort=d&view=c&_acct=C000050221&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=10&md5=35abac90a89fcc38851abd94c6ad29f2
U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) (1987) FDA: Food additive approval process followed for Aspartame. Viewed online June 2, 2009. Online: http://www.gao.gov/products/HRD-87-46
3,2,1 recipes.com – Aspartame warning. Viewed online June 2, 2009. Online: http://www.321recipes.com/aspartame.html
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