Aspartame was discovered in 1965 by a researcher, Mr. James Schlatter, at G.D. Searle & Company.

Schlatter was a scientist doing research with amino acids, working to develop a treatment for ulcers. When he licked his finger to pick up a piece of paper he tasted a sweet attractive flavor. James Schlatter inadvertently had the first taste of aspartame and helped create a product that would revolutionize the category of "sweetener" for individuals and food companies.

Since that time aspartame has become one of the most highly valued and widely used sweeteners in the world, known for its clean taste and amazing sweetness (180-200 times sweeter than sucrose). Aspartame also quickly became a highly valued ingredient among people with diabetes because it literally changed their lives, allowing them to enjoy foods that are sweet and tasty without ingesting sugar.

Aspartame approved for general use in the United States, August 1, 1996.