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neotame has been developed as a sweetener with a high degree of sweetness and is obtained by N-alkylating aspartame, an existing sweetener. Its degree of sweetness varies according to the kinds of foods and blend composition and is 7,000 to 13,000 times and about 30 to 60 times sweeter than sugar and aspartame, respectively. Neotame is said to have superior stability to existing sweeteners and not to release phenylalanine under normal storage conditions.
In the United States, Neotame was permitted for use in the general food categories as a sweetener and a flavor potentiator in 2002. As of June 2004, it was permitted for use in 19 countries, including Australia and New Zealand, and has been used in foods, mainly beverages, as a sweetener and a flavor potentiator.