Context:
IARC has classified aspartame as “possibly carcinogenic” to humans.
About Aspartame:
- World’s most commonly used low-calorie artificial sweetener
- It is 200 times sweeter than sucrose (common sugar).
- Discovered by – James M. Schlatter (1965)
- Made up of 2 amino acids: Aspartic acid and phenylalanine (naturally occurring amino acids)
- Aspartame undergoes metabolism into aspartic acid, phenylalanine, and a small amount of methanol.
- Uses – Foods and drinks, including cereals, sugar-free chewing gum, low-calorie fruit juices and diet sodas.
The usage of aspartame is sanctioned in around 100 countries worldwide, including India, and received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1981 for application in specific dry foods, followed by inclusion in carbonated beverages in 1983.
About Artificial Sweeteners:
- They are sugar substitutes that are used as alternatives to natural sugars.
- Chemically synthesized and provide a sweet tastewithout the high calorie content of regular sugar.
- Examples – saccharin, aspartame, acesulfame potassium (Ace-K), sucralose, neotame, and advantame.
- Benefits –
- Offer benefits for weight management, diabetes control, tooth decay prevention
- Provide safe options for individuals with phenylketonuria (PKU)
- Minimal impact on blood sugar levels
- It is in non-fermentable nature
- Absence of phenylalanine
- Drawbacks –
- Increased risk of metabolic disorders
- Disrupted gut microbiota
- Digestive discomfort such as bloating, gas, diarrhea etc.
Metabolism refers to the chemical processes that occur within an organism to maintain life. It involves a wide range of biochemical reactions that convert nutrients into energy, build and repair tissues, and regulate various biological functions.
Source: PIB
Previous Year question
Aspartame is an artificial sweetener sold in the market. It consists of amino acids and provides calories like other amino acids. Yet, it is used as a low-calorie sweetening agent in food items. What is the basis of this use?
[UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2011 Prelims]
(a) Aspartame is as sweet as table sugar, but unlike table sugar, it is not readily oxidized in human body due to lack of requisite enzymes.
(b) When aspartame is used in food processing, the sweet taste remains, but it becomes resistant to oxidation.
(c) Aspartame is as sweet as sugar, but after ingestion into the body, it is converted into metabolites that yield no calories.
(d) Aspartame is several times sweeter than table sugar, hence food items made with small quantities of aspartame yield fewer calories on oxidation.
