Aspartame Processed with an Enzyme from Pig Kidney
This isn't new news, but I didn't know it. I found a whole bunch of sites with this information when I was looking for aspartame info (and discovering kmk was right - of course - and I was wrong; it's L-phen in aspartame, not D-phen).
Aspartame isn't vegan.
http://chemwiki.ucdavis.edu/Biological_Chemistry/Sweetners/Aspartame
In the synthesis of aspartame, the starting materials are a racemic mixture (equal quantities of both isomers) of phenylalanine, and aspartic acid. Only the L isomer of phenylalanine is desired for use. This L isomer may be separated from the D isomer by a chemical pretreatment, followed by a reaction with the enzyme porcine kidney acylase. The final separation occurs with an acidic aqueous and organic extraction, where the L isomer is more soluble in the aqueous layer and the D isomer is more soluble in the organic layer.
You aren't the only one. I didn't know either. Ewwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww.
lol. You and yg didn't know, so I feel better now. :) ::)
EW SICK!!! i didnt know either!
I didn't know, but I wouldn't be surprised with all the gross things in silly things like fake sweeteners.
I'm happy I just assumed there would be something weird in aspartame making it not vegan so I never eat it.
oh wow. i hate anything of the nature so thank goodness i don't eat it, but i will be passing this info along! i know many vegans do use it.
wait a second... seriously diet soda isn't vegan? all aspartame isn't vegan? i drink diet soda and crystal light so i have been drinking crap with animals in it? i had no idea :(
I avoid aspartame like the plague because it's SO evil--pure evil--for your health, but I had no idea it wasn't vegan! Good to know, and I'll pass it on to my friends who aren't as strict about aspartame but who are veg.
Amymylove, a MUCH healthier diet drink choice (& a vegan one) is Zevia. I'm totally into their root beer & cherry. The cola's not bad either althought it contains caffeine. I'm not crazy about their other flavors tho. It's the first soda-type drink EVER to contain no calories AND no junk. I hope they come up w/ some new flavors soon...
so i have been drinking crap with animals in it? i had no idea
Animal isn't in it, but animal was used during processing. It's equivalent to the use of bone char in the processing of white sugar.
My reaction to this was odd. I already knew aspartame was evil, and that it tastes disgusting, so my thought was, "I'm glad it's also not vegan." ::) Strike three, you're out.
oh i see it's like bone char in sugar... i guess i have another new years resolution
that's pretty sick. I had no idea either. Blech!
OMG NO MORE GUM. D: