Aspartame, also known as NutraSweet or Equal, is a popular artificial sweetener and food additive found in beverages, foods and even some medications. Although some have credited aspartame with causing seizures, brain tumors, fibromyalgia, cancer, hives, throat swelling, difficulty breathing and other serious side effects, these assertions haven't be verified. In fact, according to the National Institutes of Health, "People have reported side effects from eating aspartame, but this has not been proven through scientific studies."
Professional Case Study
According to a 1986 article in The New York Times, immunologist Anthony Kulczycki, M.D., reported allergic reactions to aspartame in two of his patients. After drinking two to three cans of soda containing aspartame, they both developed hives, a rash, throat swelling and difficulty breathing.
Food Additive Allergies
Allergic reactions in general can range from a mild rash to full-blown anaphylactic shock, which can cause decreased blood pressure, sweating, nausea, rapid pulse, confusion, fainting and even death. Reactions to food additives are generally found to be either chemical or allergic in nature, although more often chemical. According to the Asthma & Allergy Foundation of America, eight food additives are known to cause reactions: sulfites; parabens; tartrazine (a dye); MSG; nitrates and nitrites; BHT and BHA (cereal additives); preservatives called benzoates; and aspartame.
Anecdotal Reports
Anecdotal reports, according to the AAFA, indicate that specific reactions to aspartame may include hives, swelling of the hands and eyelids, and headache. However, individual reports such as these must be further reviewed by methodical scientific study to gather specific evidence to determine whether aspartame is the actual cause of the allergic reactions.
Suspected Aspartame Allergy
If you suspect an aspartame allergy, remove all aspartame from the diet to see whether symptoms continue. If symptoms clear or disappear, then the culprit may have been found. If symptoms continue, another allergen, food additive or food may be causing the problem. If symptoms persist, consult a physician for professional advice. Although not an allergy, anyone with phenylketonuria (PKU) should avoid all products with aspartame, as they cannot metabolize it.
Allergy Prevention
Since aspartame is used as a low-calorie sweetener in so many products, read labels before consuming food and drink whenever possible, if you are concerned about allergic reactions. If necessary, while in a restaurant, ask the server about food and drinks containing aspartame. In reading labels for allergy prevention, look for the words aspartame, NutraSweet or Equal; next look for the words aspartic acid or phenylalanine. These terms all signal that the product contains aspartame.
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