Aspartame and Energy Drinks: What You Need to Know
With consumer and government demand for less sugar in consumables growing over several decades, artificial low-calorie sweeteners such as aspartame have long been a go-to choice for producers. Over 6,000 products rely on the ingredient1, with the primary US exposure in diet sodas such as Pepsi Zero Sugar, Diet Coke, and energy drinks2.
Over time, however, this staple substance has come under scrutiny from various health entities. Most recently, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the US Food and Drink Administration (FDA) have called out aspartame as possibly carcinogenic to humans.
What Is Aspartame?
Aspartame is a commonly used non-saccharide sweetener that is 200 times sweeter than sucrose. It is used in beverages, confectionaries, and pharmaceuticals and is the main component of retail sweeteners such as Canderal, Equal, and NutraSweet. It has been not without controversy over the years, having been FDA approved in 1974, only to be rejected in 1980 and approved again in 1981.
Now, once again, the CSPI3 cites aspartame research findings as a “concern to consumers, food manufacturers, and food safety officials in the US and around the world.” It recommends avoiding the ingredient. Why is this?
Potential Aspartame Consumption Health Concerns
Although approved within consumption limits, the sweetener could negatively impact memory, learning, fetal and brain development and create stress, anxiety, depression, and mood disorders4.
Reviews suggest that low or no-sugar products incorporating aspartame may help reduce excessive sucrose intake. However, counterintuitively, it may also increase the risk of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. In addition, its phenylalanine content is dangerous for those born with phenylketonuria (PKU). Though unproven, there is an ongoing concern that artificial sweeteners may be linked with cancers and neurotoxic symptoms.
With this in mind, and considering the increasing consumer preference for more natural, pure, and non-harmful ingredients, how can manufacturers keep their products sweet and clean? Another growing user need is for plant-based components, and in this space lies the possible consumer and environmentally sound solution.
Sustainably Sweet Plant-Based Alternatives
While refined sugar is plant-based, its potential harm with extensive exposure is proven. Consumers can use natural sweeteners such as honey, maple syrup, agave, and coconut sugar, but with some of the shortcomings of sucrose.
In contrast, another plant-based sweetener, stevia, is hundreds of times sweeter than sucrose, has almost no calories, and may help lower blood sugar and blood pressure. Others offering natural sweetness without unwelcome side effects include erythritol, xylitol, yacon syrup, and monk fruit.
Whatever sweetness you choose for your product portfolio, the secret lies in moderation, avoiding over-processing and artificial ingredients, ensuring purity, and offering transparency. Advanced Biotech offers a broad range of 100% natural, plant-based, fully documented, and EU-certified taste and odor extracts to add authentic aspartame-free flavor, aroma, and value.
Advanced Biotech’s Natural Flavor and Fragrance Ingredients
We extract our natural aromatics, distillates, thiazoles, pyrazines, and other pure taste and fragrance extracts from responsibly obtained original botanical sources using advanced, greener technologies and techniques. This retention of the compound’s essence means your consumers can count on enjoying the exact chemical compounds that give your selected ingredients their distinctive tastes, odors, and characteristics.
Whether your flavor and aroma profiles require fruity, nutty, vegetable, or spicy sweetness, Advanced Biotech supplies the highest quality sustainable plant-based ingredient options. Please contact us for more information.
1 https://www.cbsnews.com/news/aspartame-carcinogen-who-what-products-contain-aspartame/
2 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aspartame
3 The Center for Science in the Public Interest
4 https://www.foodbeverageinsider.com/food-ingredients/business-bites-fda-examines-prime-energy-drinks-aspartame-named-possibly-carcinogenic-to-humans-by-who