Aspartame chemical formulation

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NutraSweet Information

 

NutraSweet is the brand name for the artificial sweetener aspartame. It is

180 times sweeter than normal sugar (sucrose). Aspartame was discovered

accidentally by James Schlatter in 1965 while testing an anti-ulcer drug for

G.D. Searle Company. Aspartame originally received FDA approval in 1974 but

approval was then put mon hold untill 1981 because of safety concerns. In

1981 it was approved for use in dry foods and in 1983 it received approval

for use in beverages. In 1985, G.D. Searle was bought by Monsanto and Searle

Pharmeceuticals and The NutraSweet Company were made into two different

companies.

 

The chemical formula for aspartame is C14H18N2O5. It is a synthetic molecule

composed of two amino acids, aspartic acid and phenylalanine. The two amino

acids are bonded through a peptide bond between the carboxyl group of

aspartic acid and the nitrogen of the amino group of phenylalanine. All of

the 20 amino acids found in nature consist of a central carbon bonded to a

hydrogen, a carboxylic acid group (COOH), an amino group (NH2), and a side

chain which varies for each amino acid. The side chain is what determines

the different properties of amino acids. Aspartame has a methyl group (CH3)

which is converted into poisonous methanol when it comes in contact with the

enzyme chymotrypsin in the small intestine. The methyl group can be seen on

the 2D model of aspartame and on the 3D model of aspartame. To view the 3D

model you will need to get the Chime plug-in.

 

There were many objections to the FDA approval of aspartame; this is why it

took so long to be approved. In 1980, a three person Public Board of Inquiry

was set up and voted unanimously against the approval of aspartame. It was

not until 1981 when Reagan, a friend of G.D. Searle, became president that

aspartame was approved. Reagan fired the FDA commissioner who had been

rejecting approval and appointed Arthur Hull Hayes as commissioner. Hayes

then set up a five person Scientific Commission to review the decision of

the Public Board of Inquiry; he later added a sixth member to manipulate the

Scientific Commission's decision into a deadlock. Hayes then approved

aspartame for use in both foods and beverages and resigned his position as

FDA commissioner to take a job with G.D. Searle's public relation firm. This

may appear to be an outlandish conspiracy theory but this is how aspartame

got approved for use in the United States. Aspartame received approval even

though there were still doubts about its safety. With most foods and drugs,

the safety of the product has to be proven before it receives FDA approval.

However, because of Hayes' manipulation aspartame, a product that is still

considered unsafe by many scientists, was approved.

 

HOPE YOU ALL LEARNED SOMETHING.

PAM

 

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