Aspartame

Aspartame (or APM) (pronounced /'æsp¿rte¿m/ or /¿'sp¿rte¿m/) is the name for an artificial, non-saccharide sweetener. In the European Union, it is known under the E number (additive code) E951. Aspartame is the methyl ester of a phenylalanine/aspartic acid dipeptide. Although some question its safety, the weight of existing scientific evidence indicates that aspartame is safe at current levels of consumption as a non-nutritive sweetener.