Renewed Frenzy Over NutraSweet Safety Heightens Concerns

NutraSweet. Brain tumors. By now you've probably heard there's a connection. Or is there? Reports questioning the safety of aspartame (brand names NutraSweet and Equal) -- most recently on the CBS program 60 Minutes—have dominated health headlines, but are based on little hard evidence. Here's the scoop. Unlike many additives, aspartame consists of two naturally occurring compounds—the amino acids aspartic acid and phenylalanine—albeit in a way nature never intended. Since aspartame was first