Is Aspartame vegetarian?
Aspartame
Aspartame is an artificial, low-calorie sweetener synthesised from two amino acids: aspartic acid and the methyl ester of phenylalanine. It is approximately 200 times sweeter than sucrose. Used widely as a food and beverage additive, it is listed as E951 in the EU and sold under brand names such as NutraSweet and Equal.
| Also known as | 3-Amino-N-(1-carboxy-2-phenylethyl) succinamic acid, N-methyl ester, APM, Canderel, Equal, NutraSweet |
|---|---|
| INCI name | Aspartame |
| E number | E951 |
| INS number | 951 |
| CAS number | 22839-47-0 |
| EC number | 245-261-3 |
| CosIng ID | 32015 |
| Last reviewed | 16 April 2026 |
An ingredient is considered vegetarian if it avoids components derived from killing an animal.
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