Sweetener Glossary
AspartameAspartame, a synthetic sweetener, is a dipeptide (=two amino acids) consisting of the amino acids phenylalanine (as methyl ester) and aspartic acid . It is metabolized as other amino acids. The sweet taste of aspartame has a good taste profile, much like that of normal sugar. Aspartame exhibits synergistic effects with other sweeteners, especially acesulfame-K.Aspartame is best suited for slightly sour products. The most common applications are in lemonade and other soft drinks. However, these have only limited keeping qualities due to the breakdown of the aspartame and the consequent reduction in sweetness. Aspartame also starts to break down upon heating and therefore is not suitable for baking. People suffering from phenylketonuria (PKU) are advised to avoid aspartame due to its phenylalanine content. The maximum permissible use of aspartame in lemonade and other soft drinks is 600 mg/l, which means that it is possible to drink up to 4 litres of aspartame-sweetened soft drinks per day without exceeding the ADI.
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