Seasoning maker Ajinomoto Co. said Monday it will spend 6 billion yen to boost its production capacity of the artificial sweetener aspartame [aka Nutrasweet]. The expansion, beginning early next year and to be completed by March 2006, will push Ajinomoto's global production capacity of aspartame to 10,000 tons a year, the company said. It said there is growing demand for the use of aspartame in low-calorie foods and beverages. Ajinomoto, which currently has about 40 percent of the global aspartame market, aims to win a larger share as global demand for the sweetener is expanding by more than 5 percent per year on the back of consumer concerns about weight, it said...More than two decades since its launch, aspartame is now authorized in 120 countries.
Website looking at toxicity of nutrasweet
Urban Legends Reference Pages
FDA: To date, FDA has not determined any consistent pattern of symptoms that can be attributed to the use of aspartame, nor is the agency aware of any recent studies that clearly show safety problems.
Lancet: Our research revealed over 6000 web sites that mention aspartame, with many hundreds alleging aspartame to be the cause of multiple sclerosis, lupus erythematosis, Gulf War Syndrome, chronic fatigue syndrome, brain tumours, and diabetes mellitus, among many others. Virtually all of the information offered is anecdotal, from anonymous sources and is scientifically implausible.
