Argumentative Essay On Aspartame

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Recommended: Analysis of aspartame

Intro
Aspartame, also known as E951 on food labels, has been a very controversial food additive for decades. It is used to replace sugars in foods such as diet coke, desserts, and chewing gum. Many people fear it due to its bad reputation as being a “chemical” and unnatural, coupled with claims of side effects ranging from headaches to cancer. Its no wonder many people refuse to take even a hint of Aspartame!p But how bad is Aspartame? Are any of these claims true?

History
Aspartame is an organic compound that belongs to the peptide esters group with the molecular formula: C14 H18 O5 N2. Aspartame is an artificial sweetener that was permitted for use in 1981. “In Canada, food additives such as aspartame are subjected to rigorous controls under …show more content…

Aspartic acid is a very common amino acid that is found in protein rich foods, similar to Phenylalanine, such as fish, eggs, and meat. Aspartic acid also has no harmful side effects, and Aspartame is a very minor source compared to other listed sources of aspartic acid.

Methanol
Aspartame is made up of 10% Methanol, which is a toxic substance similar to ethanol found in alcohol. The main Sources of Methanol include fruits, vegetables, and coffee. Methanol found in Aspartame is harmless, as found by Picard (2013), there is more "poisonous" methanol in a banana than in a can of Diet Coke, neither of which are anything that will cause you harm.

Common Claims
Aspartame causes Cancer: A couple studies on animals have shown that aspartame may cause cancer, however these have been condemned for their inadequate methods and irrelevance to humans. Another study found a small connection between aspartame and certain types of cancer, however this was only found in males. Furthermore, there are scientific studies from around the world that have shown that Aspartame is not linked to cancer or brain

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