Health Canada has approved all of the sweeteners in the list below for use by Canadians. Sucralose is created from sucrose, i.e. table sugar, but has a slightly different chemical structure. It is calorie-free because it is not absorbed into the body. It is approximately 600 times sweeter than sugar, and does not promote tooth decay. Aspartame is a synthetic sweetener made up of two naturally occurring amino acids.
Amino acids are the building blocks of protein.
Aspartame is broken down by the body in the same way as other protein compounds in foods. Like other proteins, it provides calories, but because Aspartame is 200 times sweeter than sugar, only very small amounts are needed to sweeten a food or drink. As a result, it adds practically no calories to the product it sweetens. PKU is diagnosed at birth and is relatively rare. This information is of a general nature and may not apply to your special circumstances.