who invented aspartame

What is aspartame and how was it invented?

What is Aspartame and Where Did it Come From? Aspartame was discovered by accident by scientist James M. Schlatter in 1965. As Schlatter was researching an anti-ulcer drug, he licked his finger to get a better grip, and the sweetness he tasted was aspartame. Aspartame is made up of two amino acids, aspartic acid and phenylalanine.

Where did aspartame originate from?

Where Did Aspartame Come From? It was first developed by the pharmaceutical company G.D. Searle. But Searle had difficulty getting their product approved by the Food and Drug Administration, the federal agency responsible for making sure our food and drugs are safe: Apparently, the monkeys and mice that the substance was tested on, developed brain lesions, tumors, and seizures, and even died from it.

When was aspartame invented?

The history of aspartame dates back to 1965 when the low-calorie sweetener was accidentally discovered by chemist James Schlatter. After the evaluation of data from required studies, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved aspartame for use in certain foods in 1981, soft drinks in 1983, and authorized aspartame as a general-purpose sweetener for foods and beverages in 1996.

Why is aspartame controversial?

The two issues under scrutiny were whether aspartame increased the risk of brain damage or mental retardation and if ingestion of aspartame led to brain tumors in animals, namely rats. After analyzing the issues, the board was to decide if this additive should continue to be used in foods, and if the approval was not revoked, if warning labels should be required on products containing aspartame.

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What company invented aspartame?

G.D. Searle & CompanyAspartame was discovered in 1965 by James M. Schlatter, a chemist working for G.D. Searle & Company. Schlatter had synthesized aspartame as an intermediate step in generating a tetrapeptide of the hormone gastrin, for use in assessing an anti-ulcer drug candidate.

How did aspartame get invented?

Aspartame was discovered by accident by scientist James M. Schlatter in 1965. As Schlatter was researching an anti-ulcer drug, he licked his finger to get a better grip, and the sweetness he tasted was aspartame. Aspartame is made up of two amino acids, aspartic acid and phenylalanine.

Why is aspartame FDA approved?

In 1983 (48 FR 31376), FDA approved the use of aspartame in carbonated beverages and carbonated beverage syrup bases, and in 1996, FDA approved it for use as a "general purpose sweetener." It is not heat stable and loses its sweetness when heated, so it typically isn't used in baked goods.

When did aspartame start being used?

U.S. FDA approval. Aspartame was originally approved for use in dry foods in 1974 by then FDA Commissioner Alexander Schmidt after review by the FDA's Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition.

Is aspartame worse than sugar?

None of the sugars and sweeteners in the study had any negative effect on people with a healthy weight, though. These studies suggest that regular intake of aspartame could increase the risk of glucose intolerance, particularly in people who may already be overweight.

What are the dangers of aspartame?

Aspartame use has also been associated with increased risk of type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and hormone-related cancers [59,60,61,62,63,64,65,66]. Studies also indicated elevated risk of early menarche among girls aged 9–10 years.

Is aspartame cancerous?

No, artificial sweeteners such as aspartame don't cause cancer. You might have seen stories about artificial sweeteners and cancer on social media or the news. But the best evidence in humans does not show a link. The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has also reviewed the evidence.

Is aspartame banned in Europe?

2. In which food products is aspartame used? Aspartame is authorised in the EU for use as a food additive to sweeten a variety of foods and beverages such as drinks, desserts, sweets, chewing gum, yogurt, low calorie and weight control products and as a table-top sweetener.

Is aspartame really safe?

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has concluded that “the use of aspartame as a general purpose sweetener… is safe.”

Is there aspartame in Coke Zero?

Yes. We sweeten Coke Zero Sugar in our bottles and cans with a blend of aspartame and acesulfame potassium (or Ace-K). Together, they create a great taste with zero sugar and zero calories.

Is there aspartame in eggs?

Aspartame is a low-kilojoule sweetener composed of two amino-acids, aspartic acid and phenylalanine. Both of these amino acids are found commonly in protein-containing foods, such as eggs, meat, fish, dairy products and nuts.

What is aspartame made out of?

Aspartame is made of the two naturally occurring amino acids, phenylalanine and aspartic acid, which are also components of proteins in our body and in food. The phenylalanine in aspartame has been slightly modified by adding a methyl group which gives aspartame its sweet taste.

Why is aspartame still used?

Aspartame is an artificial sweetener, sold under brand names such as NutraSweet® and Equal®, that has been in use in the United States since the early 1980s. It is used in many foods and beverages because it is much sweeter than sugar, so much less of it can be used to give the same level of sweetness.

Where is aspartame found?

Aspartame is found in about 6,000 products around the world, including carbonated soft drinks, powdered soft drinks, chewing gum, confections, gelatins, dessert mixes, puddings and fillings, frozen desserts, yogurt, tabletop sweeteners, and some pharmaceuticals such as vitamins and sugar-free cough drops.

Is there aspartame in Coke Zero?

Yes. We sweeten Coke Zero Sugar in our bottles and cans with a blend of aspartame and acesulfame potassium (or Ace-K). Together, they create a great taste with zero sugar and zero calories.

When was aspartame first used?

Aspartame was first made in 1965 and approved for use in food products by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1981. Aspartame is one of the most rigorously tested food ingredients. Reviews by over 100 governmental regulatory bodies found the ingredient safe for consumption at current levels.

Who makes aspartame?

Many aspects of industrial synthesis of aspartame were established by Ajinomoto. In 2004, the market for aspartame, in which Ajinomoto, the world's largest aspartame manufacturer, had a 40 percent share, was 14,000 metric tons a year, and consumption of the product was rising by 2 percent a year. Ajinomoto acquired its aspartame business in 2000 from Monsanto for $67M.

How much aspartame is in diet soda?

The primary source for exposure to aspartame in the United States is diet soft drinks, though it can be consumed in other products, such as pharmaceutical preparations, fruit drinks, and chewing gum among others in smaller quantities. A 12 US fluid ounce (355 ml) can of diet soda contains 0.18 grams (0.0063 oz) of aspartame, and for a 75 kg (165 lb) adult, it takes approximately 21 cans of diet soda daily to consume the 3.7 grams (0.13 oz) of aspartame that would surpass the FDA's 50 milligrams per kilogram of body weight ADI of aspartame from diet soda alone.

How much sweeter is aspartame than sucrose?

Aspartame is around 180 to 200 times as sweet as sucrose (table sugar). Due to this property, even though aspartame produces 4 kcal (17 kJ) of energy per gram when metabolized, the quantity of aspartame needed to produce a sweet taste is so small that its caloric contribution is negligible. The taste of aspartame and other artificial sweeteners differs from that of table sugar in the times of onset and how long the sweetness lasts, though aspartame comes closest to sugar's taste profile among approved artificial sweeteners. The sweetness of aspartame lasts longer than that of sucrose, so it is often blended with other artificial sweeteners such as acesulfame potassium to produce an overall taste more like that of sugar.

Why is aspartame not recognized by rodents?

Aspartame is not recognized by rodents due to differences in the taste receptors.

What is the decomposition of aspartame?

Aspartame's major decomposition products are its cyclic dipeptide (in a 2,5-diketopiperazine, or DKP, form), the non-esterified dipeptide (aspartylphenylalan ine), and its constituent components, phenylalanine, aspartic acid, and methanol. At 180 °C, aspartame undergoes decomposition to form a diketopiperazine derivative.

Where is aspartame hydrolyzed?

Aspartame is rapidly hydrolyzed in the small intestines. Even with ingestion of very high doses of aspartame (over 200 mg/kg), no aspartame is found in the blood due to the rapid breakdown. Upon ingestion, aspartame breaks down into residual components, including aspartic acid, phenylalanine, methanol, and further breakdown products including formaldehyde and formic acid. Human studies show that formic acid is excreted faster than it is formed after ingestion of aspartame. In some fruit juices, higher concentrations of methanol can be found than the amount produced from aspartame in beverages.

When was aspartame first used?

The history of aspartame dates back to 1965 when the low-calorie sweetener was accidentally discovered by chemist James Schlatter. After the evaluation of data from required studies, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved aspartame for use in certain foods in 1981, soft drinks in 1983, and authorized aspartame as a general-purpose sweetener for foods and beverages in 1996. The European Union approved aspartame in 1994 as a food additive. It is currently approved for use in more than 100 countries.

When did the FDA discredit aspartame?

1999. The U.S. FDA and Brazil’s regulatory agency, Agencia Saude, discredit a wide range of web-based allegations that aspartame negatively affects health, determining that there is no scientific support for these allegations and the reported issues are anecdotal in nature. 2000.

How much aspartame should I drink a day?

The U.S. FDA increases the Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI) for aspartame to 50 mg per kg of body weight per day. That means a 150 lb adult can safely consume 20 12 oz diet sodas daily over a lifetime.

What are the two amino acids in aspartame?

While table sugar is made of the two carbohydrates glucose and fructose, aspartame is composed of two amino acids, aspartic acid and phenylalanine, linked together. When the body breaks down aspartame the two amino acids are separated and a small amount of methanol is formed. These same compounds are also found in much larger amounts infrequently ...

How many countries use aspartame?

It is currently approved for use in more than 100 countries. Aspartame has a very interesting history with lots of twists and turns since its approval more than 30 years ago. Check out the timeline below to learn more.

Does aspartame cause cancer?

Using methods do not follow standard, acceptable protocol and scientific practice for evaluating cancer, the Ramazzini Institute in Italy suggests that aspartame causes leukemia and lymphoma in rats.

Is aspartame a sugar substitute?

Less aspartame is needed to provide a sweet taste so (in the packet or bag) it is commonly mixed with other ingredients to make it more convenient for consumers to substitute aspartame for a similar amount of sugar.

When did Hayes approve aspartame?

Advertisement. One of Hayes’ first official acts as FDA chief was to approve the use of aspartame as an artificial sweetener in dry goods on July 18, 1981.

Who tried to stop the approval of aspartame?

Dr. John Olney, who founded the field of neuroscience called excitotoxicity, attempted to stop the approval of aspartame with Attorney James Turner back in 1996. The FDA’s own toxicologist, Dr. Adrian Gross told Congress that without a shadow of a doubt, aspartame can cause brain tumors and brain cancer and that it violated the Delaney Amendment, ...

How many complaints did the FDA have about aspartame?

From 10,000 consumer complaints, the FDA compiled a list of 92 symptoms, including death. Dr. Betty Martini, the founder of Mission Possible International, works with doctors around the world in an effort to remove aspartame from food, drinks and medicine. According to Dr. Martini, aspartame has brought more complaints to ...

When did Searle reapply for approval?

On January 21, 1981 , the day after Ronald Reagan’s inauguration, Reagan issued an executive order eliminating the FDA commissioners’ authority to take action and Searle re-applied to the FDA for approval to use aspartame in food sweetener.

When was Donald Rumsfeld absorbed by Monsanto?

Here’s the kicker: When Searle was absorbed by Monsanto in 1985, Donald Rumsfeld reportedly received a $12 million bonus, pretty big money in those days. Also, while at Searle, Rumsfeld was awarded Outstanding CEO in the Pharmaceutical Industry from the Wall Street Transcript (1980) and Financial World (1981)!

Is aspartame a neurotoxic substance?

Aspartame, not so much. Download. Martini says NutraSweet is a “deadly neurotoxic drug masquerading as an additive.

Did Donald Rumsfeld get a medal for Aspartame?

Donald Rumsfeld and the Strange History of Aspartame. Yes, that Donald Rumsfeld, the “knowns and unknowns” guy who remarkably executed some of the worst decisions in American foreign policy and got a medal for it. I have been reading up on this strange chapter in the history of Donald Rumsfeld and have learned two things.

When was aspartame first synthesized?

In 1965, while creating a bioassay, an intermediate chemical was synthesized -- aspartylphenylalanine-methyl-ester (aspartame). In December of 1965, while James Schlatter was recrystalling aspartame from ethanol, the mixture spilled onto the outside of the flask. Some of the powder got onto his fingers. Later, when he licked his fingers to pick up a piece of paper, he noticed a very strong sweet taste. He realized that the sweet taste might have been the aspartame. So, believing that the dipeptide aspartame was not likely to be toxic, he tasted a little bit and discovered its sweet taste (Stegink 1984a, page 4). The discovery was reported in 1966, but there was no mention of the sweetness (Furia 1972).

When was aspartame approved?

On July 26, 1974, just 15 months after Searle petitioned for approval, FDA commissioner Alexander Schmidt approved aspartame use in dry foods, allowing a 30-day period for public hearings and comment. He acted on a strong endorsement from the Bureau of Foods, now called the Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (CFSAN).

How many studies did the FDA look at in 1975?

In July 1975, the FDA Commissioner, Dr. Alexander Schmidt appointed a special Task Force to look at 25 key studies for the drugs Flagyl, Aldactone, Norpace, and the food additive aspartame. Eleven of the pivotal studies examined involved aspartame. All of the studies whether conducted at G.D. Searle or Hazleton Laboratories were the responsibility of the Pathology-Toxicology Department at G.D. Searle. (Gross 1987a, page 430 of US Senate 1987).

When was aspartame approved for sweetening?

On March 5, 1973, G.D. Searle's petition to the FDA for approval to market aspartame as a sweetening agent was published in the Federal Register (1973).

What are the components of aspartame?

Aspartame (C14H18N2O5 ) is a compound of three components. These components are methanol, aspartic acid and phenylalanine (the latter being free form amino acids).

When was artificial sweetener discovered?

The investigators first reported the discovery of the artificial sweetener in the Journal of the American Chemical Society stating (Mazur 1969 ):

Who was the lead investigator for the FDA?

The special Task Force was headed by Philip Brodsky, FDA's Lead Investigator and assisted by FDA Toxicologist, Dr. Adrian Gross. The Task Force was especially interested in "pivotal" tests as described in an article from Common Cause Magazine by Florence Graves (Graves 1984, page S5499 of Congressional Record 1985a):

What is the other amino acid in aspartame?

PLAY SOUND. However, phenylalanine , the other amino acid in aspartame, is another story – but only for the small subset of the population. Phenylalanine is an essential amino acid, which means the body can only acquire it through the diet.

Who was the chemist who accidentally contaminated the tip of his index finger with an unassuming white powder?

The Truth About Aspartame. In 1965, James M. Schlatter , a chemist at G.D. Searle and Company, accidentally contaminated the tip of his index finger with an unassuming white powder. Later that day, a page in the book he was reading got stuck.

What is the substance on Schlatter's finger?

The substance on Schlatter's finger, 200 times sweeter than sugar, was aspartame, the artificial sweetener known today by the brand names NutraSweet, Equal and Spoonful.

Is aspartame a sweetener?

If aspartame delivers methanol to your bloodstream, it would seem like a no-brainer to avoid the sweetener at all costs, but there's a confounding factor: methanol is also found in all sorts of harmless foods, especially fruits and vegetables, in quantities comparable to foods that contain aspartame.

Does aspartame cause cancer?

However, a study conducted in 2005 by the European Ramazzini Foundation, which tracked the health of aspartame-fed rats for their entire natural lives, linked aspartame consumption with an increased lifetime cancer risk.

Is aspartame a neurotransmitter?

Aspartic acid is also a neurotransmitter, which has led to speculation that aspartame consumption affects normal brain processes, possibly causing headaches, migraines, or worse.

Is aspartame a good substitute for sugar?

There is one sure-fire healthy alternative to both artificial sweeteners and sugar, of course. Put down that soda and toss back a glass of water, unsweetened coffee or tea, instead. Pass it on : Aspartame is widely regarded as safe, but some doubts about its safety remain.

What is the name of the artificial sweetener that is used to make ant poison?

The artificial sweetener aspartame was originally developed as an ant poison.

Can black ants eat aspartame?

We found later that small black ants would not eat the aspartame. It was determined that if you mixed it with apple juice, they would quickly take it back to the nest, and all would be dead within 24 hours, usually. I have found that sometimes it will kill them, and sometimes it does not. Not sure why, may be slightly different species of ants or something.

Is aspartame an ant poison?

Although aspartame (an artificial sweetener marketed under the brand name NutraSweet) was also an accidental discovery, it was not initially developed as an “ant poison.”.

Is Nutrasweet an ant poison?

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has certified the popular sweetener aspartame, also known as NutraSweet, as an ant poison.

Does aspartame kill fire ants?

We also note that in 2007-08, Wizzie Brown of Texas A&M’s Agrilife Extension Service conducted studies on the effectiveness of aspartame as a mound treatment for controlling of fire ants. In two different studies (one involving sprinkling aspartame onto fire ant mounds, the other involving watering aspartame into the mounds), Brown found no difference between aspartame-treated mounds and untreated control plots.

What is the story of aspartame?

The story of aspartame is about ignoring science, corporate interests, and even a little government corruption throw in for good mix.

When was aspartame banned?

The FDA originally disapproved of aspartame in 1980, as it had a Board of Inquiry made up of a team of scientists that reported that “it might induce brain tumors.”

Is aspartame the same as sucrose?

Aspartame also goes by the name NutraSweet or Equal and is found in over 6000 products. It is 200 times sweeter than suc rose and was accidentally discovered by a chemist working on an anti-ulcer drug.

Overview

History

Aspartame was discovered in 1965 by James M. Schlatter, a chemist working for G.D. Searle & Company. Schlatter had synthesized aspartame as an intermediate step in generating a tetrapeptide of the hormone gastrin, for use in assessing an anti-ulcer drug candidate. He discovered its sweet taste when he licked his finger, which had become contaminated with aspartame, to lift up a piece of paper. Torunn Atteraas Garin participated in the development of a…

Uses

Safety and health effects

Mechanism of action

Chemistry

Intake

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