It is about 200 times sweeter than sugar. The calories in foods can be substantially reduced, and in many products be almost eliminated, by using aspartame in place of sugar. Aspartame is marketed in the United States under the brand name NutraSweet. In 1983, it was approved for use in carbonated beverages, and has since been used to sweeten many other foods and beverages. Prior to its approval, aspartame underwent one of the most thorough scientific reviews ever conducted.
Regulatory bodies consider it one of the most widely tested ingredients in the food supply.
The safety of aspartame has been affirmed by the FDA and leading independent health groups such as the American Medical Association. The rapid growth and widespread use of aspartame in foods has led to much publicity, and with it, a variety of questions about this ingredient. This brochure answers questions most frequently asked by consumers about aspartame. Aspartame is a low-calorie sweetener. It is used to sweeten a variety of foods and beverages and as a tabletop sweetener.