Aspartame
E951
E951, aspartame, aspartyl phenylalanine methyl ester, aspartamo
What it is
An intense synthetic sweetener approximately 200 times sweeter than sugar.
Why BOTIA flags it
It flags it because it requires a mandatory warning for phenylketonurics (contains phenylalanine) and represents a marker of ultra-processed foods (NOVA Group 4).
BOTIA CAN
- Identify E951 or Aspartame and flag the mandatory warning 'contains a source of phenylalanine'.
- Classify the product as ultra-processed under the NOVA system.
BOTIA CANNOT
- Measure the exact milligrams of aspartame added to the formulation.
- Verify if the aspartame has begun to degrade into diketopiperazine under high-temperature storage.