Aspartame

Aspartame is an artificial sweetener about 200 times sweeter than sucrose. It is the methyl ester of the dipeptide formed from aspartic acid and phenylalanine.

Sweet taste: A taste sensation produced when compounds activate sweet-sensitive receptors, principally the T1R2–T1R3 receptor. Aspartame activates sweet taste receptors despite providing far less energy than sugar.
Diet soda: A carbonated soft drink sweetened with low- or no-calorie sweeteners instead of sugar. Aspartame is widely used in diet sodas, often alongside other sweeteners.
James M. Schlatter: An American chemist who discovered aspartame while working at G.D. Searle in 1965. Schlatter found aspartame's sweetness after accidentally tasting a contaminated finger.
Phenylketonuria: An inherited disorder in which impaired phenylalanine metabolism can cause harmful accumulation of the amino acid. People with phenylketonuria must restrict phenylalanine, so aspartame products carry warnings.
T1R2–T1R3: A G protein-coupled receptor heterodimer that detects many sweet compounds on taste cells. This receptor mediates the sweetness signal triggered by aspartame.
Sugar substitute: A substance used in place of sugar to provide sweetness, with different effects on energy intake and blood glucose. Aspartame is one member of the broader class of sugar substitutes.
G.D. Searle: An American pharmaceutical company that developed and sought approval for aspartame. The company investigated aspartame after Schlatter's discovery.
International Agency for Research on Cancer: A World Health Organization agency that evaluates evidence on cancer hazards. IARC classified aspartame as possibly carcinogenic to humans in 2023, based on limited evidence.
Aspartic acid: An acidic amino acid found in proteins and many metabolic pathways. It is one of the two amino-acid components of aspartame.
Tabletop sweetener: A packaged sweetening product intended for direct addition to food or drinks. Aspartame is sold in tabletop products, commonly blended with bulking agents.

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