*2.3.1 Aspartame*

Aspartame is an artificial non saccharide sweetener of molecular formula.

C14H18N2O5 and finds its use in food and beverages as sugar substitute. Aspartame is a methyl ester of aspartic acid/phenylalanine dipeptide and marketed under the name NutraSweet, Equal and Canderel. In 1965, Aspartame was reported and U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1981 approved its use in the food products (**Figure 2**).
