Aspartame

Aspartame is a low-calorie artificial sweetener whose chemical name is aspartyl phenylalanine methyl ester, sold commercially as NutraSweet. This dipeptide ester, built from aspartic acid and phenylalanine, tastes approximately 160 to 200 times sweeter than sucrose, so only tiny amounts are needed. It is non-cariogenic, leaves no bitter aftertaste, and is safe for diabetics since it barely affects blood sugar. However, it loses sweetness on prolonged storage and exposure to heat, making it unsuitable for baking and long-shelf-life hot products. It must be avoided by people with phenylketonuria, because phenylalanine is released during its metabolism, which is why products containing it carry a warning label.