# Both sugar (HFCS) and aspartame **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [October 25, 2010, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/both-sugar-hfcs-and-aspartame/558244 "2010-10-25T02:59:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2010, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/both-sugar-hfcs-and-aspartame/558244/1 "2010-10-25T02:59:41Z")
My root beer has both. And not because it’s supposed to be some kind of reduced calorie root beer. This seems very unusual to me. And to make this not completely pointless–what other products do this? ---
**Author:** ![TimeWinder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bcef8e/32.png) [@TimeWinder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TimeWinder)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2010, 5:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/both-sugar-hfcs-and-aspartame/558244/2 "2010-10-25T05:02:43Z")
The diet Orange Crush can in front of me has both, as well. But it is intended to be low-cal (25 calories/can, odd in an era when pops seem to be either zero or hundreds). My guess is that the aspartame provides the sweetness, and the HFCS in small amounts (given the low calorie count, there can’t be much of it) probably provides something else: texture or anti-crystalization of something, maybe. ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2010, 7:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/both-sugar-hfcs-and-aspartame/558244/3 "2010-10-25T07:43:40Z")
Most sugar substitutes are sweeter than sugar and cost less, but have a bitter aftertaste. A small amount of real sugar can neutralize or mask this aftertaste. I usually put Sweet’n’Low in my tea, along with a small amount of sugar. This way I get my tea sweet enough, without the nasty aftertaste. ---
**Author:** ![Sattua](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sattua/32/11906_2.png) [@Sattua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sattua)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2010, 12:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/both-sugar-hfcs-and-aspartame/558244/4 "2010-10-25T12:24:01Z")
Flavored yogurt does this… at least the kinds I’ve read the labels on. The full-calorie versions, not the reduced versions. Makes me mad because aspartame gives me headaches, so I can’t have flavored yogurt at all. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2010, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/both-sugar-hfcs-and-aspartame/558244/5 "2010-10-30T03:42:33Z")
> [@Lynn\_Bodoni](#): > > Most sugar substitutes are sweeter than sugar and cost less, but have a bitter aftertaste. A small amount of real sugar can neutralize or mask this aftertaste. I usually put Sweet’n’Low in my tea, along with a small amount of sugar. This way I get my tea sweet enough, without the nasty aftertaste. This I am aware of. You use a little bit of sugar to help with the taste of an otherwise sugar-free product. But it seems like that, since this root beer is labeled and advertized as just plain root beer, the aspartame must have been added for taste. BTW, HFCS is the second highest ingredietn (besides carbonated water), while aspartame is the second lowest (besides some preservative). In fact, I wouldn’t have noticed that aspartame at all if it didn’t include that phenylketonurics warning. I thought I’d finally discover another ingredient that contained phenylalanine ---
**Author:** ![TimeWinder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bcef8e/32.png) [@TimeWinder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TimeWinder)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2010, 5:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/both-sugar-hfcs-and-aspartame/558244/6 "2010-10-30T05:36:59Z")
> [@Sattua](#): > > Makes me mad because aspartame gives me headaches, so I can’t have flavored yogurt at all. If it’s any consolation, it’s psychosomatic. The headaches disappear when tested (several studies have been done on this, all concluding that folks get headaches when they _think_ they’ve had aspartame, not when they actually ingest it.). ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2010, 6:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/both-sugar-hfcs-and-aspartame/558244/7 "2010-10-30T06:43:05Z")
> [@TimeWinder](#): > > If it’s any consolation, it’s psychosomatic. The headaches disappear when tested (several studies have been done on this, all concluding that folks get headaches when they _think_ they’ve had aspartame, not when they actually ingest it.). Then what do real phenylketonurics get? Surely there wouldn’t be a warning for a psychosomatic illness. ---
**Author:** ![TimeWinder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bcef8e/32.png) [@TimeWinder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TimeWinder)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2010, 9:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/both-sugar-hfcs-and-aspartame/558244/8 "2010-10-30T09:12:47Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > Then what do real phenylketonurics get? Surely there wouldn’t be a warning for a psychosomatic illness. Phenylketonuria is a real illness, but it’s different than the “Nutrasweet headaches” people complain about. It’s an inability of the body to process a particular amino acid, which causes it to build up in the body and have all sorts of serious effects. But it’s rare, genetic, and you wouldn’t have it without knowing it; at least not very long. The headache thing is just one of a long list of things “everybody knows” about aspartame, most of which aren’t true. Nutrasweet is one of the boogymen of the Internet; you can find a number of previous threads on it here. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2010, 11:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/both-sugar-hfcs-and-aspartame/558244/9 "2010-10-30T11:25:31Z")
> [@TimeWinder](#): > > Phenylketonuria is a real illness, but it’s different than the “Nutrasweet headaches” people complain about. It’s an inability of the body to process a particular amino acid, which causes it to build up in the body and have all sorts of serious effects. But it’s rare, genetic, and you wouldn’t have it without knowing it; at least not very long. > > The headache thing is just one of a long list of things “everybody knows” about aspartame, most of which aren’t true. Nutrasweet is one of the boogymen of the Internet; you can find a number of previous threads on it here. Ah, like the rat poison thing. In fact, I should have already known this, since I’ve seen the studies you talk about. But I was still under the impression that it could still be a migraine trigger, just like many other otherwise innocuous substances. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2010, 11:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/both-sugar-hfcs-and-aspartame/558244/10 "2010-10-30T11:47:36Z")
> [@Sattua](#): > > Flavored yogurt does this… at least the kinds I’ve read the labels on. The full-calorie versions, not the reduced versions. Makes me mad because aspartame gives me headaches, so I can’t have flavored yogurt at all. Try [Stoneyfield](http://www.stoneyfield.com). Here’s the ingredients from their Organic, Low Fat Strawberry Yogurt CULTURED PASTEURIZED ORGANIC LOW FAT MILK, NATURALLY MILLED ORGANIC SUGAR, ORGANIC STRAWBERRY JUICE FROM CONCENTRATE, NATURAL FLAVOR, ORGANIC NATURAL VANILLA FLAVOR, ORGANIC BEET JUICE CONCENTRATE (FOR COLOR), PECTIN, VITAMIN D3. CONTAINS OUR EXCLUSIVE BLEND OF SIX LIVE ACTIVE CULTURES: S. THERMOPHILUS, L. BULGARICUS, L. ACIDOPHILUS, BIFIDUS, L. CASEI, AND L. RHAMNOSUS. It’s not nearly as sweet as other brands, it’s also considerably thinner (which I assume is due to lack of a thickener such as carrageenen), and it’s a bit more expensive, but I really like it. ---
**Author:** ![Athena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/35a633/32.png) [@Athena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Athena)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2010, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/both-sugar-hfcs-and-aspartame/558244/11 "2010-10-30T14:09:32Z")
> [@Sattua](#): > > Flavored yogurt does this… at least the kinds I’ve read the labels on. The full-calorie versions, not the reduced versions. Makes me mad because aspartame gives me headaches, so I can’t have flavored yogurt at all. Plain yogurt plus a spoonful of your favorite jam is better anyway! ---
**Author:** ![Brown\_Eyed\_Girl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/brown_eyed_girl/32/3574_2.png) [@Brown\_Eyed\_Girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brown_Eyed_Girl)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2010, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/both-sugar-hfcs-and-aspartame/558244/12 "2010-10-30T15:01:46Z")
> [@Athena](#): > > Plain yogurt plus a spoonful of your favorite jam is better anyway! Or honey or, if you like lemon flavor, try Greek yogurt with lemon curd. Yummm!!! ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2010, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/both-sugar-hfcs-and-aspartame/558244/13 "2010-10-30T15:03:26Z")
> [@Athena](#): > > Plain yogurt plus a spoonful of your favorite jam is better anyway! Yup, I end up making my own yogurt. Most pre-flavored ones contain gelatin, which is not good for a vegetarian like me. ---
**Author:** ![Markxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@Markxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Markxxx)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2010, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/both-sugar-hfcs-and-aspartame/558244/14 "2010-10-30T17:17:55Z")
What is the brand of root beer that does that? ---
**Author:** ![Brown\_Eyed\_Girl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/brown_eyed_girl/32/3574_2.png) [@Brown\_Eyed\_Girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brown_Eyed_Girl)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2010, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/both-sugar-hfcs-and-aspartame/558244/15 "2010-10-30T17:25:04Z")
> [@Ferret\_Herder](#): > > Yup, I end up making my own yogurt. Most pre-flavored ones contain gelatin, which is not good for a vegetarian like me. The pink ones have [ground up insect](http://www.naturalnews.com/002043.html) in them, too! :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2010, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/both-sugar-hfcs-and-aspartame/558244/16 "2010-10-30T18:04:28Z")
> [@Brown\_Eyed\_Girl](#): > > The pink ones have [ground up insect](http://www.naturalnews.com/002043.html) in them, too! :eek: IIRC Lipstick does as well.