Well, this is where the controversy begins. Many say it is perfectly safe and there is no real hard evidence to show that it isn t. Others say they have been affected by this alternative sweetener and would like to know what aspartame really does or doesn t do to the body. First, we must examine what it contains. Methanol is one chemical found in aspartame.
Methanol is a fatal poison.
When methanol is ingested into the body it forms formic acid and formaldehyde. Both formaldehyde and methanol are toxic. But, in fact, one liter of soda that contains aspartame has 56 mg of methanol. There are many side effects that can occur when large doses of methanol are consumed. When the methanol is converted in the body into formaldehyde the side effects that can occur are retinal damage, it may interfere with DNA replication and can cause birth defects.