According to Food Insight, aspartame is an artificial low-calorie sweetener but is about "200 times" sweeter than sugar. An allergy to aspartame can cause hives anywhere on the body as well as gastrointestinal or respiratory issues.

Aspartame may be a helpful solution for certain people and population groups to control calories and added sugar intake when used in moderation as part of a balanced lifestyle.Lohner S, et al. (2017). Health outcomes of non-nutritive sweeteners: Analysis of the research landscape. More is at stake than just cavities. Oral health affects the rest of the body. Gum disease and related conditions have been linked to a variety of broader health problems. Pneumonia can be caused by certain mouth bacteria getting pulled into the lungs. Endocarditis, an infection of the lining of the heart, can result from mouth bacteria traveling through the bloodstream. Some research links heart disease, clogged arteries, and stroke to inflammation from oral bacteria. Helping reduce harmful mouth bacteria, prevent gum disease, and protect tooth enamel is precisely what chewing sugar-free gum can do. For consumers, alphabet-soup agencies mean less than the practical question: If non-nutritive sweeteners were to fall out of use altogether, would our health be in a better or worse position? This is because sugar is digested by the bad bacteria in your mouth, causing an increase in the amount of plaque on your teeth and tooth decay over time ( 49). According to the FDA, consuming amounts of aspartame that are within the daily intake recommendations isn’t thought to be harmful ( 15).

However, the overall results are mixed. Some studies have reported that chewing gum does not affect appetite or energy intake over the course of a day ( 39, 40).The HHS has noted that some additional populations may have problems with aspartame because their body cannot properly break down phenylalanine, including: Aspartame is one of the most studied food additives in the human food supply. FDA scientists do not have safety concerns when aspartame is used under the approved conditions. The sweetener is approved in many countries. Regulatory and scientific authorities, such as Health Canada and the European Food Safety Authority have evaluated aspartame and also consider it safe at current permitted use levels. In a major review by the World Health Organisation (WHO), the common sweetener found in products such as Diet Coke and chewing gum, aspartame, has been ruled carcinogenic to humans. On July 14, the World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) declared aspartame “possibly carcinogenic to humans” for the first time. In fact, a 2019 study commissioned by the World Health Organization looked at the relationship between NNS, including aspartame, and several health outcomes in humans, including:

Thaumatin has been the subject of numerous published sub-chronic studies as well as mutagenicity and allergenicity studies. Sweetness Intensity of Sweeteners Compared to Table SugarSweeteners or sugar substitutes, such as aspartame, sucralose, and stevia derived substances, are ingredients used to sweeten and in some cases enhance the flavor of foods. Some sweeteners are much sweeter than table sugar, and smaller amounts are needed to achieve the same level of sweetness as sugar in food. People may choose to use sweeteners instead of sugar for various reasons. For example, sweeteners contribute only a few or no calories to the diet and generally will not raise blood sugar levels. The biggest problem with these artificial sweeteners is that when people think what they’re eating or drinking is ‘diet,’ they consume more than they should. Although the studies are not conclusive, consumption of diet sodas has been linked to worsening diabetes and obesity. A lot of the time we do not even realize there is an artificial sweetener in the product we’re buying.” Some older animal studies have linked very high doses of titanium dioxide with nervous system and organ damage in rats ( 6, 7). The committee agreed with EFSA’s conclusions on aspartame safety for the general population. Acceptable daily intake levels of aspartame A two-year clinical study that followed 547 school-aged children in Budapest found that chewing sugar-free gum after meals significantly reduced the formation of cavities. Reduces plaque

However, agency officials said there was only “limited evidence” that aspartame can cause human cancer, so it was listing the sweetener as an IARC Group 2B carcinogen. Substances in that category are described as “possibly carcinogenic to humans.” The WHO’s announcement also conflicts with major food manufacturers who widely use aspartame, mostly as a sugar substitute. We often take the flavor, color, and shelf-life of our gum for granted. We assume that gum sold in stores wouldn’t contain questionable ingredients. But there is a wide variety of lab-derived chemicals used in mainstream gums to give us powerful flavors and colors. Synthetic preservatives are also used to keep gum from being degraded naturally by bacteria and fungi. For certain people, products containing aspartame should be avoided due to the potential for harmful side effects to occur. Phenylketonuria To earn Treehugger's Best Overall spot, a gum must be affordable, flavorful, and made from healthy plant-based ingredients. The chew also has to be pleasing and lasting. Simply Gum brand chewing gum meets all these criteria and more. Made in the Brooklyn, NY by a woman-owned company, this gum’s recognizable plant-based ingredients—like organic raw cane sugar, organic vegetable glycerin and organic rice flour—are Non-GMO Project Certified and Vegan Certified.One reason for concern is that the methyl group added to reduce bitterness is partially converted into formaldehyde — a chemical that can be toxic in high doses — when metabolized by the body. Drinking 1 liter of diet soda with 600 milligrams of aspartame will be converted into 60 milligrams of formaldehyde, according to a 2021 narrative review of literature on aspartame. Glee Gum. Glee gum is a natural chewing gum that is readily available from natural food stores,pharmacies,and online. • Chicza Gum. Chicza is a truly earth friendly gum. FDA scientists do not have safety concerns when aspartame is used under the approved conditions,” the agency said. What the research says about cancer risk and aspartame