CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY, NORTHRIDGE PERCEPTION OF SAFETY AND TASTE ACCEPTANCE OF ASPARTAME A thesis submitted in partial satisfaction of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Home Economics by Kathleen A. Freund January, 1987 ' 0 The Thesis of Kathleen A. Freund is approved: Lillie M. Grossman, Dr. P.H. Ann R. Stasch, Ph.D., Chair California State University, Northridge ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Sincere appreciation is extended to committee chair­ person, Dr. Ann R. Stasch, for her friendship, patience, guidance, and support throughout the many years of my academic career and in the development of this thesis. Special thanks to committee member, Dr. Lillie Grossman, for her sponsorship and continued support during the completion of this thesis. Sincere thanks to committee member, Dr. Marjory Joseph, for her advice and expertise throughout the process of this thesis. Lastly, I would like to express my gratitude to my husband, Conrad R. Freund, and my friend, Rita Martino, for their assistance in data collection. Added thanks to Brenda J. Soniega for her assistance with the final manuscript. iv TABLE OF CONTENTS Page DEDICATION . • . • . iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS . iv LIST OF TABLES • • vi ABSTRACT . • . vii CHAPTER 1. INTRODUCTION • • • . • 1 2. REVIEW OF LITERATURE . 6 3. PROCEDURE. • • • • • • • . • • . 33 4. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION • • . • • • • • 35 5. SUMMARY, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMM.ENDATIONS 46 REFERENCES . 49 APPENDIXES A. QUESTIONNAIRE .•.. 57 B. CHI SQUARE ANALYSES •• . 63 v -- LIST OF TABLES Page Table 37 1. Demographic Data . • . • . 42 2. Regular Use of Aspartame Products .• . vi ABSTRACT PERCEPTION OF SAFETY AND TASTE ACCEPTANCE OF ASPARTAME by Kathleen A. Freund Master of Science in Home Economics January, 1987 The purpose of this study was to determine the subjects' acceptance of aspartame and their perception of its safety for consumption. One hundred twenty-one users of artificial sweeteners and/or artificially-sweetened products responded to a questionnaire which included questions on labeling, artificial sweetener use, taste preference and presence of aftertaste, safety, cost, and demographics. The results of the study indicated that the majority of the subjects used artificial sweeteners to reduce caloric intake. Men were more likely than women to use artificial sweeteners to reduce sugar intake. When given choices between aspartame and sugar or saccharin, aspar­ tame was chosen as the preferred sweetener. -Forty-five percent of the sample believed that aspartame was safer to consume than saccharin. Forty-one percent believed that neither aspartame nor saccharin was safe, but used vii artificial sweeteners and/or artificially-sweetened products on a regular basis. Almost all respondents had read the warning labels on saccharin products, yet less than half had read the warning on aspartame products. Ninety-four percent did not know the meaning of the term phenylketonuric or if it had any personal significance. The most frequently used artificially-sweetened product was carbonated soft drinks. Significance of selected questions was determined using chi-square analysis at the 0.05 level of significance. 6 f,.; ·{;;..,,·.· ·~ viii l 'i:: CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION The demand for a low-calorie sweetener is not new. Saccharin was discovered in 1879 and manufactured for distribution five years later. It was widely used as a sweetening agent during times of sugar shortages, especially during World Wars I and II. In 1937 cyclamate was introduced as the second non-nutritive sweetener. Although less sweet than saccharin it did not have the same unpleasant aftertaste characteristic of saccharin (40). In 1965 aspartame was discovered, but final approval by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its use in dry foods was not issued until 1981. Two years later aspartame was approved for use in carbonated beverages. Since cyclamate has been banned in the United States and the future of saccharin is uncertain, aspartame appears to be the non-nutritive sweetener of choice although it, too, has come under attack. The advantage to having a safe non-nutritive sweetener available is that it allows greater variety in the diets of those with diabetes mellitus and other medical disorders as well as those who choose to restrict caloric intake. JUSTIFICATION Because aspartame is a relatively new compound, most 1 2 of the available literature deals with the effects of aspartame on metabolic processes. The early studies were conducted in part to secure approval by the FDA. There continues to be ongoing controversy between the possible side-effects from widespread use of aspartame and the apparent safety of the product. This study attempted to determine if the sample participating had accepted aspartame as a beneficial addition to consumer products in terms of taste acceptability and safety and if they had an understanding of aspartame in terms of those who may be sensitive to any possible side-effects. A questionnaire designed to address the above issues was used to collect data. Dietitians and other health care professionals are faced with providing therapeutic diets that will result in patient compliance. This study was designed to make a positive contribution to the literature by adding some insight as to whether aspartame is an acceptable alternative to sucrose or other non-nutritive sweeteners and one that the patient views as safe for consumption. OBJECTIVES The purpose of this study was to determine the acceptability of aspartame in terms of taste, perception of safety, and awareness of restrictions for use by individuals who use non-nutritive sweeteners. Specific objectives included: i:.L__ 3 1. To determine why the respondents used non­ nutritive sweeteners. 2. To determine if the respondents chose non­ nutritive sweeteners solely on the basis of taste. 3. To determine if the respondents were aware of warning labels on the non-nutritive sweeteners, or foods containing them, which they purchased and/or consumed. 4. To determine if the respondents perceived aspartame as having fewer risks of side-effects than saccharin. ASSUMPTIONS 1. The questionnaire was a valid tool for collecting data concerning respondents' acceptance of aspartame as a beneficial addition to consumer products in terms of taste acceptability, safety, and consumer awareness of potential risks to sensitive individuals. 2. The responses of the participants were representative of, but limited to, those who participated in the study. 3. The responses of the participants were truthful and as accurate as possible. LIMITATIONS 1. The non-random distribution of the questionnaire 4 was limited to subjects who used products that contain non-nutritive sweeteners. 2. The geographical area of this study was limited to residents of the Greater Los Angeles Metropolitan Area. DEFINITIONS OF TERMS ASPARTAME - Chemical name: L-aspartyl-L-phenylalanine methyl ester. Non-nutritive sweetener. Trade names: Equal, Nutrasweet. CYCLAMATE - Chemical name: N-cyclohexylsulfamic acid. Artificial, non-nutritive sweetener. Banned for use in the United States by the FDA in September, 1970. HETEROZYGOUS PHENYLKETONURICS - individuals who carry a recessive gene for phenylketonuria. NON-NUTRITIVE SWEETENERS - sweeteners that do not contain appreciable kilocalories; also called artificial sweeteners; include saccharin, cyclamate, and aspartame. PHENYLKETONURIA (PKU) - a genetic disease in which the body cannot convert phenylalanine (an essential amino acid) to tyrosine (another essential amino acid) due to a missing enzyme (phenylalanine hydroxylase). Untreated PKU can result in damage to brain tissue and accompanying mental retardation, very light colored hair, and eczema. PKU can be detected at birth and treated with a low­ phenylalanine diet. 5 SACCHARIN - Chemically known as: sodium saccharin. An artificial, non-nutritive sweetener. Trade names: Sweet and Low, SugarTwin, and Sucaryl. CHAPTER 2 REVIEW OF LITERATURE The first artificial sweetener, saccharin, was used originally as an antiseptic and as a food preservative (30). The discoveries of cyclamate and aspartame as possible sweetening agents were accidental. Cyclamate's sweet taste was noted by a scientist at the University of Illinois when some powder, a derivative of cyclohexyl­ sulfamic acid, touched a cigarette he was smoking (31). Aspartame was discovered while scientists at Searle research laboratories were working to find an enzyme inhibitor as a possible treatment for ulcers (35). Although none of these artificial sweeteners has proven to be completely satisfactory in terms of taste or safety, the consumer continues to demand an alternative to sugar. HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE At the time of the discovery of saccharin in 1879 (40), the need for an artificial or non-nutritive sweetener was limited primarily to times of sugar shortages. In 1937 cyclamate was discovered (30). By combining these two products, saccharin for its intense sweetening properties and cyclamate for its absence of aftertaste, a satisfactory non-nutritive sweetener was available. Although sucrose or table sugar was the preferred sweetening agent, the demand 6 7 for a low calorie sweetener increased as people became more weight and health conscious. Between 1937 and 1969 the use of non-nutritive sweeteners increased tenfold due to the popularity of diet soft drinks introduced in the late 1950's (40). Cyclamate was banned in 1969 after test results suggested that it may have carcinogenic properties (70) and that Abbott Laboratories, the manufacturer