Health & Nutrition

About Equal^®

Aspartame, the zero-calorie sweetening ingredient in Equal^® sweetener, was discovered in 1965.

It underwent many years of testing before being declared safe and approved for consumer use for the first time in 1979 in France.

In 1981, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the tabletop use of aspartame. The following year, the Equal^® brand was launched.

Equal^® is owned by Chicago-based Merisant Company, a privately-owned global leader in the sweetener industry. Merisant markets a total of 19 sweetener brands in more than 100 countries.

Equal^® Safety

Equal^® sweetener and Aspartame are safe.

Aspartame was approved by both the Health Production Branch (HPB) of Health and Welfare Canada and the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1981.

Prior to approval aspartame underwent one of the most thorough scientific reviews ever conducted. Regulators consider it one of the most widely tested ingredients in the food supply.¹

In 1990 Health and Welfare Canada prepared a review of aspartame and concluded that aspartame is safe for use by the average individual and that current consumption levels are well below the ADI for all segments of the Canadian population²

Aspartame is safe for the general public including diabetics, pregnant and nursing women and children. The only exception is persons with the rare hereditary disease phenylketonuria (PKU) who must control their phenylalanine intake.

People with the extremely rare disease phenylketonuria (PKU) should consult with their physician before consuming aspartame in beverages or products.

The acceptable daily intake (ADI) for aspartame is 40mg/kg³. As an example a 150 lb. Adult could consume 97 Equal^® packets or 20 cans of a diet soft drink daily to reach the ADI level.