"Hundreds of thousands of consumers, more likely millions, currently suffer major reactions to products containing aspartame. Today, every physician probably encounters aspartame disease in everyday practice, especially among patients with illnesses that are undiagnosed or difficult to treat...

Aspartame is made up of three chemicals: the amino acids aspartic acid and phenylalanine, and methanol... Aspartame readily breaks down into its component parts in a variety of circumstances: in liquids; during prolonged storage; when exposed to heat in excess of 86° Fahrenheit (30° Centigrade); and when ingested. These constituents further break down into other toxic by-products..."

Donald Rumsfeld was the political player who succeeded in getting Aspartame approved by the U.S. government back in 1981, bypassing the objections of FDA scientists.

See: Pat Thomas article (2005-09)