Equal

Equal is a brand of artificial sweetener made of aspartame, dextrose and maltodextrin. It is marketed as a low-calorie alternative to sugar, and is commonly used in diet and low-sugar food and beverages.

History

Equal was first introduced in the United States in 1982 by the Monsanto Company. It was initially sold in small, portable packets, and was later made available in larger, table-size packets and in bulk for use in food service.

Ingredients

Equal contains three main ingredients:

• Aspartame: A low-calorie sweetener that is approximately 200 times sweeter than sugar. Aspartame is made from two amino acids, phenylalanine and aspartic acid, which are naturally present in many foods.

• Dextrose: A simple sugar that is derived from corn. Dextrose is used in Equal to provide bulk and to make the product easier to use.

• Maltodextrin: A carbohydrate that is derived from corn. Maltodextrin is used in Equal to provide bulk and to improve the product's texture.

Health Effects

The safety of aspartame, the main ingredient in Equal, has been the subject of numerous studies. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has determined that aspartame is safe for consumption by the general population, including people with diabetes. However, people with a rare genetic disorder called phenylketonuria (PKU) must avoid aspartame because they cannot metabolize phenylalanine, one of the amino acids in aspartame.

See Also

• Artificial sweeteners
• Aspartame
• Dextrose
• Maltodextrin
• Phenylketonuria

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