Aspartame: Is it truly safe?

The Sciences

With the advancement of technology, humans have been able to revolutionize many areas of society, including food. One of the latest developments in this field is the production of artificial sweeteners, which are cheaper and contain close to zero calories, making them a game changer within the food industry. Aspartame, in particular, is one such artificial sweetener that has been the subject of fascination and concern since its introduction into the food industry in the early 1980s (Glória, 2003).

Concern?

Infamous for being linked to kidney and liver damage, there has been a lot of concern over the usage of aspartame to substitute standard sugar. Furthermore, a large study found that people who consumed more aspartame than average were 15% more likely to contract cancer, specifically bladder cancers. As a result of this, the World Health Organisation’s International Agency for research on Cancer (IARC) conducted research on aspartame, and put it later in group 2B for its cancer hazard classification (i.e it could potentially cause cancer) (World Health Organisation, 2023) . This was later disputed by the FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration) due to the low amount of evidence the IARC used to make its decision.

Aspartame is a dipeptide artificial sweetener composed of two amino acids, aspartic acids and phenylalanine. During digestion, it undergoes metabolism and is broken down into its constituent amino acids, other metabolites and methanol. Methanol historically is toxic when produced in large quantities which has given rise to rumours on aspartame’s toxicity. However, the amount of methanol produced from aspartame is minimal, and close to the amount found in fruits and Vegetables, suggesting no significant risk to human health.

In addition, aspartame is made up of an amino acid called phenylalanine which is by no means dangerous by itself. But with certain health conditions, phenylketonuria to name one, this amino acid builds up in your body and due to the health condition, it cannot be broken down. Phenylalanine accumulates in the blood and the brain, so excess buildup can

then lead to brain damage.

But there is not much to worry about specifically for aspartame. The conditions that make aspartame deadly are extremely rare and can be treated or mitigated in multiple ways.

In conclusion, aspartame is safe, for most people. It has been supported by extensive scientific research and regulatory oversight by food development authorities. When consumed within the right limits, aspartame poses a very minimal threat to human health and offers a viable alternative to sugars to help with dieting.