Aspartame was discovered by James M. Schlatter in 1965, but was not approved for use in foods or beverages in North America until the 1980s. According to Health Canada, it was cleared for use in Canada in 1981, while the FDA (an American organization) approved it for foods and beverages in 1983. It was first released under the brandname "NutraSweet".

 

     However, aspartame still remains a controversial topic. While its use is widespread, its safety profile remains difficult to fully comprehend. Many researchers have backed the use of aspartame and deemed it safe for public consumption. There are, however, many detractors who either feel its health effects are unknown, or are, in fact, dangerous. Furthermore, there is new research that again casts doubt on the supposedly assured safety of aspartame.