Ingredient Guide

🇬🇧 Aspartame on Food Labels in UK

Aspartame is permitted but requires specific warning statements in United Kingdom: declare as "aspartame (E951)" with the required warning: "Contains a source of phenylalanine".

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What the Rule Is

Intense artificial sweetener approximately 200× sweeter than sucrose, widely used in diet products. In United Kingdom, Aspartame is regulated under Retained EU Law & UK FIC as a food sweetener. UK retained this requirement. The PKU warning must be present on any product containing aspartame. UK FIC rules mandate this statement.

What You Must Include

Declare as "aspartame (E951)" in the ingredient list
Include the required warning: "Contains a source of phenylalanine"
Declare with functional class: "sweetener" and E-number E951
Review all compound ingredients for hidden sources
Cross-check all compound ingredients and sub-ingredients for hidden sources

Common Violations

Missing the mandatory warning: "Contains a source of phenylalanine"
Using an ambiguous or abbreviated name that does not identify Aspartame
Omitting the E-number E951 where required
Not updating the label after recipe changes involving this ingredient
Failing to check compound ingredients for hidden Aspartame content

Examples: Compliant vs Non-Compliant

Compliant Examples

"sweetener: aspartame (E951)" + warning: "Contains a source of phenylalanine"

"aspartame (E951)" in ingredient list

Full ingredient line: "Ingredients: ... aspartame (E951) ..."

Non-Compliant Examples

Using a synonym (Equal, AminoSweet) without the approved declaration name

Missing the required warning statement near the ingredient declaration

"Natural [ingredient category]" without specific name where specific name is required

How LabelGuard Checks This

LabelGuard scans your label for Aspartame and all its common names (NutraSweet, Equal, AminoSweet, E951) to verify correct declaration, required E-numbers, and mandatory warning statements under UK rules.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How must Aspartame be declared on food labels in UK?

Declare as "aspartame (E951)" in the ingredient list. A mandatory warning must also appear: "Contains a source of phenylalanine". UK retained this requirement. The PKU warning must be present on any product containing aspartame. UK FIC rules mandate this statement.

What are the common synonyms and hidden sources of Aspartame?

Aspartame may appear under the following names: NutraSweet, Equal, AminoSweet, E951, APM. Common hidden sources include: Diet soft drinks, Sugar-free gum, Low-calorie yoghurt, Tabletop sweeteners, Some medicines, Diet desserts.

Is Aspartame banned or restricted in any market?

Requires mandatory warnings in: EU, UK, US, Canada, Australia.

Regulation Sources

Last updated: 2026-04-01

Disclaimer: This information is for guidance only and does not constitute legal advice. Always consult official regulations and seek professional legal advice for specific compliance questions.

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