Thursday, 12 November 2015
Aspartame is used to replace sugar in a wide range of sugar-free and low-calorie foods
Aspartame has been used as a sweetener in foods and as a table-top sweetener for more than 30 years in many countries throughout the world. It is used to replace sugar in a wide range of sugar-free and low-calorie foods such as drinks, desserts, sweets, dairy products, chewing gums, energy-reduced and weight control products, as well as its use as a table-top sweetener. It has the same calorific value as sugar, but is about 200 times sweeter than sugar and so only a small amount is needed to sweeten products.
This factsheet is intended for food business operators, enforcement officers and other interested parties. It:
- Provides background information on the sweetener aspartame
- Includes the relevant legislation governing the use of aspartame
- Provides information on the labelling requirements for phenylketonuria sufferers and
- Outlines the safety assessments that aspartame has undergone since it was first approved for use in the European Union
