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Frequently Asked Questions
about the Use of Aspartame in Low-Calorie Foods and Beverages
Click here for PDF version of the Aspartame FAQs
 How
much aspartame are children consuming?
 Because of their smaller size, children consume
proportionately larger amounts of all food ingredients
than do adults in relation to their body weight. The
90th percentile aspartame consumption by children
between the ages of two and five is only about 10% of the
ADI. Children need calories to achieve proper growth and
development, and parents should supervise their children’s
diet to avoid dietary excesses or nutritional deficiencies.
What
is phenylketonuria (PKU) and why is there a statement regarding
PKU on products sweetened with aspartame?
Phenylketonuria (PKU) is a rare inherited disease that prevents the essential
amino acid phenylalanine from being properly metabolized. (An essential
amino acid is required for normal growth, development, and body functioning
and must be obtained from the diet, as the body cannot make it.) Because
those with PKU cannot metabolize phenylalanine, it can accumulate in the
body and cause health problems including mental retardation. In the U.S.
and many other countries, routine screening for PKU is required for all
newborns. In the U.S., about 1 in 15,000 babies is born with PKU. People with
PKU are placed on a special diet with a severe restriction of phenylalanine
from birth to adolescence or after. Women with PKU must remain on the
special diet throughout pregnancy. Since individuals with PKU must consider
aspartame as an additional source of phenylalanine, aspartame-containing
foods must state “Phenylketonurics: Contains Phenylalanine” in the U.S.
Can
women who are pregnant or breastfeeding consume aspartame?
Yes. The FDA and the Council on Scientific Affairs of the American Medical
Association agree that women who are pregnant or breastfeeding can safely use
aspartame. An American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Nutrition task
force also has concluded that aspartame is safe for both the mother and
developing baby. Aspartame is broken down in the body to the same
components (phenylalanine, aspartic acid and methanol) eaten daily in common
diets by pregnant and breast feeding women. Sufficient calories are important
during pregnancy, and calories should come from foods that contribute to
nutrient needs rather than from foods low in nutrients. The variety of foods
and beverages sweetened with aspartame can help satisfy a pregnant woman’s
taste for “sweets” without adding extra calories, leaving room for more
nutritious foods.
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