Equal Ingredients
Equal uses a unique combination of ingredients to ensure it has a great sweet taste and does not leave the bitter aftertaste commonly associated with some sweeteners. The two sweetening ingredients in Equal are Aspartame and Acesulfame Potassium (Ace-K).
Aspartame is composed of two amino acids, aspartic acid and phenylalanine, as the methyl ester. Amino acids are the building blocks of protein. Aspartic acid and phenylalanine are found naturally in protein containing foods, including meats, grains and dairy products. Methyl esters are also found naturally in many foods such as fruits and vegetables and their juices. The body handles the components from aspartame in the same way it handles them when derived from other foods.
Ace-K is a white odourless powder, like aspartame, it is approximately 200 times sweeter than real sugar. Ace-K is not metabolised by the body, it is rapidly absorbed and then excreted unchanged.
Additional ingredients are added to Equal to make the very concentrated sweetener easier to dissolve and enhance the flavour of the food and drink. All ingredients are approved food additives that can be safely added to food and beverages.