Aspartame: 100 Times Sweeter Than Sugar, But is it Safe?

While recrystallizing a chemical compound (aspartylphenylalanine-methyl-ester), some of the powder spilled and got onto Schlatter's fingers. Not realizing his, he licked his fingers inadvertently and noticed the sweet taste.

Four years later, in 1969, the Journal of the American Chemical Society reported on aspartame, discussing the "accidental discovery of an organic compound with a profound sucrose (table sugar) like taste."1

Sugar-like taste is an understatement. Aspartame is 100 to 200 times sweeter than sugar, depending on concentration. But what, exactly, is this chemical sweetener?