Fact Finder - Food and Drink

Aspartame, the everyday artificial sweetener found in 'Diet' products, was discovered by accident. Chemist James M. Schlatter was working on an anti-ulcer drug when he licked his finger to pick up a piece of paper and noticed a profound sweetness. Aspartame is a dipeptide made of two amino acids: aspartic acid and phenylalanine. It is approximately 200 times sweeter than regular sugar (sucrose), meaning only a tiny amount is needed to achieve the same sweetness, which effectively makes it calorie-free. However, because it is composed of amino acids, it breaks down and loses its sweetness when heated, which is why it is used in soft drinks and yogurt but rarely in baked goods.