Asparatame: An Overview of the FDA Health Concerns

Over 200 times sweeter than sucrose, asparatame has become a marketing extravaganza. Boasting the claim it can decrease the level of obesity through targeting Americans who typically consume more than 10% of their diet in sugar. Although evidence in weight gain or loss is inconclusive, the results in diabetics has shown the theory may be true. However, with asparatame, understanding the FDA position, advantages and disadvantages will make the consumer better educated when selecting food products with asparatame.

Discovered in 1965 by G.D. Searle, asparatame was approved for consumer use in 1974 under limited use by the FDA. Unfortunately, following the 1974 approval, the FDA learned Searle may have hidden testing evidence with regard to the risks of asparatame.  In reviewing those prior testing results, the FDA found the studies revealed tumor development in test species which had been later cut out, discovered some test species were later found dead and unreported and studies which exhibited asparatame’s breakdown process may be a catalyst in the creation of uterine tumors.  However, following discovery of the discrepancies, in 1981, the FDA continued to approve asparatame for dry foods and, then again in 1983, it was approved for soft drink use.

Unfortunately, through the years of research, asparatame was shown to be attributed no only to the test related health implications but may also be attributed to cancer, hair loss, depression, behavioral disturbances and even dementia.