Aspartame
Aspartame
| Author: Judy Kohn, RN, BSN, CDE |
| Last Updated: Thursday, March 23, 2006 |
Q: "Is ingestion of aspartame harmful to consumers, whether or not you have diabetes?"
A: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), American Diabetes Association (ADA) and the American Dietetic Association (Also ADA) all state that aspartame--brand name is Equal®-- is safe for the general public—including pregnant women. The one exception is: People who have the rare disease phenylketonuria (PKU) know not eat or drink anything with phenylalanine. Because aspartame-containing products have phenylalanine, those products carry the labeling "Phenylketonurics: Contains Phenylalanine."
A few years ago, a rumor spread through the internet that aspartame was dangerous. That rumor is now considered an “urban legend” and many agencies printed a rebuttal to that rumor, further supporting the safety of aspartame. You can read the details about the myths at the aspartame website listed below.
Finally, since individual responses can vary, be sure to consult your diabetes team to see if Aspartame is right for you.
Related Links
American Dietetic Association's Nationwide Nutrition Network
http://www.eatright.org
American Diabetes Association (ADA)
http://www.diabetes.org
Aspartame
http://www.aspartame.org
Important Notice: The responses provided by the team of Diabetes Educators are based on their personal experiences and expertise as practicing diabetes healthcare professionals, and are not to be considered diabetes management advice from Abbott Laboratories. Remember that information provided by the team of Diabetes Educators is for general background purposes and is not intended as a substitute for medical diagnosis or treatment by a trained professional. You should always consult your physician about any healthcare questions you may have, especially before trying a new medication, diet, fitness program, or approach to healthcare issues.
All tradenames and trademarks not owned by Abbott Laboratories are the property of their respective owners. For details on tradenames and trademarks and their respective owners, visit the non-Abbott trademarks listing.
