Aspartame

The artificial sweetener aspartame (E951), marketed as NutraSweet, AminoSweet, Equal, Canderel, and now as a new modified, more concentrated and heat-resistant version called neotame (E961 — aspartame plus 3-di-methylbutyl,^[1] which can be found on the EPA’s list of most hazardous chemicals), has been the subject of constant controversy since its initial approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1974. Critics point to the conflicts of interest that marred the FDA's approval of aspartame, the shoddy industry-funded research supporting its safety,^[2][3][4] and point to independent research that shows numerous health risks associated with aspartame.