Light micrograph (LM) of aspartame crystals. Aspartame is the name for the artificial, non-carbohydrate sweetener, Aspartyl-phenylalanine-1-methyl ester. It is 160 times sweeter than sugar (sucrose or saccharose), and is marketed under a number of trademarked names, such as NutraSweet and Equal. It is a common sweetener in prepared foods, particularly soft drinks. Aspartame is one of the sugar substitutes used by diabetics. Products containing aspartame usually have a warning label that they contain phenylalanine. Phenylalanine, a natural amino acid found in many foods, is deleterious only to sufferers of the genetic disorder phenylketonuria. Aspartame, being a peptide, breaks down into its constituent amino acids when heated in the presence of water and acids. Therefore, it is unsuitable for use in baking. It is commonly used in diet soft drinks such as Diet Coke or Diet Pepsi, or to sweeten coffee and tea. Magnification: x40 when shortest axis