ASPARTAME
Flavoring Agent; MASKING
Also listed as
ASPARTYLPHENYLALANINE METHYL ESTER; METHYL ASPARTYLPHENYLALANATE; LPHENYLALANINE, NLĂ ASPARTYL, 1METHYL ESTER; 1-METHYL N-L-ALPHA-ASPARTYL-L-PHENYLALANINE; ASPARTYLPHENYLALANINE METHYL ESTER; CANDEREL; DIPEPTIDE SWEETENER; EQUAL; METHYL ASPARTYLPHENYLALANATE; NUTRASWEET; SWEET DIPEPTIDE
Given the incomplete information made available by companies and the government, EWG provides additional information on personal care product ingredients from the published scientific literature. The chart below indicates that research studies have found that exposure to this ingredient -- not the products containing it -- caused the indicated health effect(s) in the studies reviewed by Skin Deep researchers. Actual health risks, if any, will vary based on the level of exposure to the ingredient and individual susceptibility -- information not available in Skin Deep.
| This ingredient: | |
 | Cancer |
| Developmental/reproductive toxicity |
 | Violations, restrictions & warnings |
| Allergies/immunotoxicity |
| Contamination concerns |
 | Other moderate concerns for this ingredient: Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs) |
| Lesser or emerging concerns for this ingredient: Neurotoxicity, Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive), Data gaps |
|
See products containing ASPARTAME | |
About ASPARTAME: Aspartame is the organic compound.
ASPARTAME has reported used in the following product types: lubricant/spermicide (24); body spray (3); blush (3); lip balm (2); breath fresheners (2); lip gloss (2); body firming lotion (1); mouthwash (1); glitter (1); body wash/cleanser (1)
Cancer
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| One or more in vitro tests on mammalian cells show positive mutation results | RTECS®- Drug and Chemical Toxicology 2004 |
Neurotoxicity
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| One or more animal studies show brain and nervous system effects at high doses | RTECS®- Journal of Environmental Pathology and Toxicology 1980 | |
| show more | ||
Developmental/reproductive toxicity
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| One or more animal studies show reproductive effects at high doses | RTECS®- Research Communications in Psychology, Psychiatry and Behavior 1985 | |
| show more | ||
Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive)
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| One or more animal studies show metabolic effects at high doses (low dose studies may be unavailable for this ingredient) | RTECS®- Toxicology 1981 | |
| show more | ||
Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs)
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| One or more animal studies show skin irritation at low doses | RTECS®- Annals of Internal Medicine 1986 |
Data gaps
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| Not assessed for safety in cosmetics by industry panel | ||
| 29,627 studies on toxicity in PubMed see search results -> | PubMed |
Ecotoxicology
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| Not suspected to be an environmental toxin | Environmental Canada Domestic Substance List |
Multiple, additive exposure sources
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| Designated as safe for general or specific, limited use in food | FDA Food Additive Status | |
| Designated as safe for general or specific, limited use in food | FDA Everything Added to Food |
Persistence and bioaccumulation
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| Not suspected to be persistent | Environmental Canada Domestic Substance List | |
| show more | ||
Government, industry, academic studies and classifications
| government/industry list/academic study | appears on list as | classification(s) |
| FDA Food Additive Status | ASPARTAME | • Food additive: nutritive sweetener • Food additive: food additive for which a petition has been filed and a regulation issued • Food additive: must be in accordance with good manufacturing practices, or sufficient for purpose; or in quantity not greater than required • Sweetening agent • sugar substitute uses stated in - CFR172.804. Sugar substitute tablets • breakfast cereals • chewing gum • dry bases for beverages • instant coffee and tea beverages • gelatins • puddings • fillings • and dairy product analog toppi |
| FDA Everything Added to Food | ASPARTAME | • Fully up-to-date toxicology information has been sought. |
| Environmental Canada Domestic Substance List | L-PHENYLALANINE, N-L-_-ASPARTYL-, 1-METHYL ESTER | •This chemical was NOT flagged by CEPA for further attention. |
| RTECS®- Annals of Internal Medicine 1986 | ASPARTAME | • skin - Dermatitis, allergic (woman TDLo) |
| RTECS®- Drug and Chemical Toxicology 2004 | ASPARTAME | • mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: Cytogenetic Analysis ( human lym) • mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: Micronucleus test ( human lym) |
| RTECS®- Journal of Environmental Pathology and Toxicology 1980 | ASPARTAME | • metabolic - Weight loss or decreased weight gain (rat TDLo) • brain and nervous system - Alteration of operant conditioning (rat TDLo) • brain and nervous system - Changes in motor activity (specific assay) (rat TDLo) |
| RTECS®- Journal of Environmental Pathology and Toxicology 1980 | ASPARTAME | • reproductive - Growth statistics (rat TDLo) |
| RTECS®- Neurobehavioral Toxicology 1979 | ASPARTAME | • reproductive - Behavioral (rat TDLo) • reproductive - Weaning or lactation index (rat TDLo) |
| RTECS®- Neurotoxicology and Teratology 1989 | ASPARTAME | • reproductive - Behavioral (guinea pig TDLo) |
| RTECS®- Pharmacology, Biochemistry and Behavior 1989 | ASPARTAME | • brain and nervous system - Changes in motor activity (specific assay) (rat TDLo) • brain and nervous system - Fluid intake (rat TDLo) |
| RTECS®- Research Communications in Psychology, Psychiatry and Behavior 1985 | ASPARTAME | • reproductive - Behavioral (mouse TDLo) |
| RTECS®- Toxicology 1981 | ASPARTAME | • metabolic - Ca (rat TDLo) • kidney or renal system - Other changes in urine composition (rat TDLo) |
references
| government/industry list/academic study | reference |
| FDA Food Additive Status | FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration) 2006. Food Additive Status List. Downloaded from http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/%7Edms/opa-appa.html, Oct 16, 2006. |
| FDA Everything Added to Food | FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration). 2008. EAFUS [Everything Added to Food]: A Food Additive Database. FDA Office of Food Safety and Applied Nutrition. |
| Environmental Canada Domestic Substance List | EC (Environment Canada). 2008. Domestic Substances List Categorization. Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA) Environmental Registry. |
| RTECS®- Annals of Internal Medicine 1986 | RTECS®- Annals of Internal Medicine. (American College of Physicians, 4200 Pine St., Philadelphia, PA 19104) V.1- 1927- 104,207,1986 |
| RTECS®- Drug and Chemical Toxicology 2004 | RTECS®- Drug and Chemical Toxicology. (Marcel Dekker, 270 Madison Ave., New York, NY 10016) V.1- 1977/78- 27,257,2004 |
| RTECS®- Journal of Environmental Pathology and Toxicology 1980 | RTECS®- Journal of Environmental Pathology and Toxicology. (Park Forest South, IL) V.1-5(3), 1977-81(?). For publisher information, see JEPOEC. 3(5-6),341,1980 |
| RTECS®- Journal of Environmental Pathology and Toxicology 1980 | RTECS®- Journal of Environmental Pathology and Toxicology. (Park Forest South, IL) V.1-5(3), 1977-81(?). For publisher information, see JEPOEC. 3(5-6),375,1980 |
| RTECS®- Neurobehavioral Toxicology 1979 | RTECS®- Neurobehavioral Toxicology. (Fayetteville, NY) V.1-2, 1979-80. For publisher information, see NTOTDY. 1,79,1979 |
| RTECS®- Neurotoxicology and Teratology 1989 | RTECS®- Neurotoxicology and Teratology. (Pergamon Press Inc., Maxwell House, Fairview Park, Elmsford, NY 10523) V.9- 1987- 11,413,1989 |
| RTECS®- Pharmacology, Biochemistry and Behavior 1989 | RTECS®- Pharmacology, Biochemistry and Behavior. (ANKHO International Inc., P.O. Box 426, Fayetteville, NY 13066) V.1- 1973- 32,17,1989 |
| RTECS®- Research Communications in Psychology, Psychiatry and Behavior 1985 | RTECS®- Research Communications in Psychology, Psychiatry and Behavior. (PJD Pub. Ltd., P.O. Box 966, Westbury, NY 11590) V.1- 1976- 9,385,1985 |
| RTECS®- Toxicology 1981 | RTECS®- Toxicology. (Elsevier Scientific Pub. Ireland, Ltd., POB 85, Limerick, Ireland) V.1- 1973- 21,91,1981 |
"RTECS®" is a United States trademark owned and licensed under authority of the U.S. Government, by and through MDL Information Systems, Inc.
Copyright © 2010 by Environmental Working Group
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