All ingredientsMODERATE
E951
Aspartame
Also known as NutraSweet, Equal
An intense artificial sweetener roughly 200x sweeter than sugar, found in diet sodas and sugar-free foods.
What it is
Aspartame is a low-calorie artificial sweetener made from two amino acids, aspartic acid and phenylalanine. It delivers sweetness without the calories of sugar, which is why it dominates 'diet' and 'zero' beverages.
Health concern
Regulators (FDA, EFSA) consider it safe within the acceptable daily intake, but in 2023 the WHO's IARC classified it as 'possibly carcinogenic'. People with the rare condition PKU must avoid it entirely.
The verdict
Fine in moderation for most people, but if you drink diet soda all day the exposure adds up — worth cutting back.
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