E951

E951 is a food additive approved by the EU (European Union). It is used as a synthetic sweetener in food and drink products.

The common name for E951 is aspartame.

Aspartame is approximately x180 sweeter than sugar. Although having a calorific value, the tiny amount needed to create a sweetened taste results in a negligible calorie content in the food product, resulting in the use of E951 in diet foods.

However, E951 has been associated with many adverse physical and psychological effects, such as:

• nausea
• migraines
• blindness
• epileptic seizures
• depression
• high blood pressure
• Alzheimer's disease

Examples of food and drink products that sometimes include E951:

• sweets
• diet foods
• soft drinks

Note⁽¹⁾ The list of Food Additives (E Numbers) included in this section is subject to change as chemicals are added or removed by regulatory authorities. This list may not be complete or and some details might not be up to date.

Note⁽²⁾ These numbers are also used in Australia and New Zealand but without the E.

Government approvals and other regulatory details are subject to change.

Regulatory approvals and advice can change.

This was added in July 2008. For current details please check with the relevant authorities.