Ask The Expert
Eating Well

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), American Diabetes Association (ADA) and the American Dietetic Association (Also ADA) all state that aspartame--brand name is Equal®-- is safe for the general public—including pregnant women. The one exception is: People who have the rare disease phenylketonuria (PKU) know not eat or drink anything with phenylalanine. Because aspartame-containing products have phenylalanine, those products carry the labeling "Phenylketonurics: Contains Phenylalanine."

A few years ago, a rumor spread through the internet that aspartame was dangerous. That rumor is now considered an “urban legend” and many agencies printed a rebuttal to that rumor, further supporting the safety of aspartame. You can read the details about the myths at the aspartame website listed below.

Finally, since individual responses can vary, be sure to consult your diabetes team to see if Aspartame is right for you.