Malawi: What are the implications that aspartame is now a “possible carcinogen”?

Adamson S. Muula^1,2

1. Professor and Head, Department of Community and Environmental Health, Kamuzu University of Health Sciences (KUHeS), Malawi
2. Editor-in-Chief, Malawi Medical Journal

Email address: amuula@kuhes.ac.m

Aspartame is an artificial non-saccharide sweetener 200 times sweeter than sucrose. It is commonly used as a sugar
substitute in foods and beverages. Aspartame is a methyl ester of the aspartic acid/phenylalanine dipeptide category.
It (aspartame) was approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1974. Its approval was
revoked in 1980 before being re-instated a year later. It is one of the most studied food additives in the human food
supply.