Aspartame

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Aspartame is the name for the artificial, non-carbohydrate sweetener, aspartyl-phenylalanine-1-methyl ester; i.e. the methyl ester of the dipeptide of the amino acids aspartic acid and phenylalanine. It is marketed under a number of trademark names, such as NutraSweet, Equal, and Canderel and is an ingredient of approximately 5,000 consumer foods and beverages sold worldwide. It is commonly used in diet soft drinks and is often provided as a table condiment. However, aspartame is unsuitable for baking because it breaks down in the presence of heat. In the European Union it is also known under the E number (additive code) E951. Aspartame is also one of the sugar substitutes used by diabetics.

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Aspartame has been the subject of a vigorous public controversy regarding its safety and the circumstances around its approval. It is well-known that aspartame contains the naturally occurring amino acid phenylalanine, which is a health hazard to the few people born with phenylketonuria, a genetic intolerance of phenylalanine. A few studies have also recommended further investigation into possible connections between aspartame and diseases such as brain tumors, brain lesions, and lymphoma, but no large-scale studies have been conducted. These possibilities, combined with notable conflicts of interest in the approval process, have engendered vocal activism regarding the legitimate risks of aspartame as well as some less credible theories.

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Carbohydrate: Carbohydrates (literally hydrates of carbon) are chemical compounds that act as the primary biological means of storing or consuming energy, other forms being fat and protein. Relatively complex carbohydrates are known as polysaccharides. Carbohydrates are naturally produced by plants and animals. ...

Sweetener: A sweetener is a food additive which adds the basic taste of sweetness to a food....

Ester: In organic chemistry and biochemistry, esters are organic compounds where an organic group (symbolised by R' in this article) replaces a hydrogen atom (or more than one) in an oxygen acid. An oxygen acid is an acid whose molecule has an - group from which the hydrogen (H) can dissociate as an H+ io...