Aspartame is a low-calorie, high-intensity artificial sweetener widely used in food, beverage, and pharmaceutical industries as a sugar substitute. It is approximately 200 times sweeter than sucrose, providing sweetness without the calories associated with sugar.
Chemical Details:
- Chemical Name: Aspartame
- Chemical Formula: C₁₄H₁₈N₂O₅
- Molecular Weight: 294.31 g/mol
- Purity: Food grade (typically ≥98%)
- Appearance: White, odourless crystalline powder or granules
- Odour: Odourless
- Taste: Sweet, clean taste similar to sugar without bitter aftertaste
- Solubility: Freely soluble in water
Key Features:
- High-intensity sweetener with ~200 times the sweetness of sugar
- Provides sweetness without adding significant calories
- Stable in dry products but may degrade at high temperatures or in prolonged heating
- Approved for use in over 100 countries, including FDA, EFSA, and WHO guidelines
Applications:
- Food and beverages: Used in soft drinks, powdered drink mixes, dairy products, desserts, confectionery, chewing gum, and table-top sweeteners
- Pharmaceuticals: Sweetening syrups, chewable tablets, and lozenges without affecting blood sugar levels
- Dietary products: Suitable for low-calorie, sugar-free, and diabetic-friendly formulations
Benefits:
- Supports calorie reduction in foods and beverages without sacrificing taste
- Does not promote tooth decay, making it ideal for confectionery and gum
- Suitable for diabetic diets as it has minimal effect on blood glucose levels
- Provides a sugar-like taste with no significant aftertaste when blended with other sweeteners
How to Use:
- Use in formulations according to regulatory guidelines and sweetness equivalency charts.
- Typical usage levels are significantly lower than sugar due to its high sweetness potency.
Safety Precautions:
- Approved as safe for human consumption within established Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI) limits (40 mg/kg body weight by EFSA; 50 mg/kg by FDA).
- Not suitable for individuals with phenylketonuria (PKU) as it contains phenylalanine.
- Store in a cool, dry place, away from moisture and direct sunlight, in tightly sealed containers.
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