This is from Wikipedia: "The genetic disorder phenylketonuria (PKU) is an inability to metabolize phenylalanine. Individuals with this disorder are known as "phenylketonurics", and must abstain from consumption of phenylalanine. This also holds true for pregnant women with hyperphenylalanine (high levels of phenylalanine in blood) because they will not properly metabolize the amino acid phenylalanine. Phenylalanine is present in many sugarless gums, Monster Munch crisps, sugarless soft drinks (such as Diet Coke and Coke Zero) and a number of other food products, all of which must be labeled: "Phenylketonurics: Contains phenylalanine." It's important to realize that phenylalanine itself is not present in the food. Rather, the artificial sweetener aspartame (e.g. Equal, NutraSweet) is present. Aspartame is an ester that is hydrolyzed in the body to form phenylalanine, aspartic acid and methanol (wood alcohol), and it is the phenylalanine product of aspartame which then builds up in the person with PKU. The amounts produced by aspartame are an incredibly low risk factor however, as far larger quantities of the amino acid would be obtained through simply consuming any protein at all with phenylalanine content, which would include all complete proteins, as phenylalanine is an essential amino acid." More here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phenylalanine

phenylketonuria Inability to normally metabolize phenylalanine, the accumulation of which interferes with normal childhood development. or phenylpyruvic oligophrenia Central nervous system effects include mental retardation and seizures (see epilepsy), with behavioral signs seen at four to six months of age. Abnormal metabolism also leads to low melanin levels, with light hair, eye, and skin colour. Tests detect this recessive genetic disorder (see congenital disorder; recessiveness) in two-thirds of the 1 in 10,000 newborns born with high levels of phenylalanine. Keeping phenylalanine out of the diet (by total avoidance of meat, dairy, and high-protein foods and aspartame) until adolescence permits normal development. Protein is supplied in a phenylalanine-free formula. Pregnant women with PKU must resume the diet to prevent severe damage to the unborn child. I hope this helps.

From "The Warning Label Book" open in front of me: "Factoid: Phenylketonurics are people who suffer from phenylketonuria (PKU), a disease that makes it difficult to metabolize phenylalaine, an amino acid found in aspartame (used in NutraSweet and Equal). Aspartame ingested by women with PKU during pregnancy can cause mental retardation in the unborn child. All products containing aspartame should spell out the dangers to phenylketonurics and also warn pregnant women to be tested for PKU before ingesting any food or drink containing aspartame. Also the FDA has concluded that experimental data "appear to suggest the possibility that aspartame . . . may contribute to the development of brain tumors." Why aren't these warnings on the side of a can of diet Coke? You don't suppose it would hurt sales, do you?"

Its OK to drink Mikes Hard Lite Lemonade, If you aren't pregnant, and you aren't a Phenylketonuric.

http://www.astro.sunysb.edu/tracy/whatis.html http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/27247/the_ill_effects_of_phenylketonurics.html

From The Douglass Report http://www.douglassreport.com/reports/aspartame_3.html?gclid=CJGl14SEx5ICFQFfxgodWkWWcA Aspartame: The sweet deception If you're like most people, you reach for a sugar substitute because you've been told it's good for you-that it would save you from the evils of sugar, and that it would even help you trim off those extra pounds. But, like all of us, you've been lied to. Enter Your Email Address: You can unsubscribe from Dr. Douglass's newsletter at any time. So let me set the record straight now. Aspartame is one of the most dangerous substances ever added to food. Not only has aspartame been proven to make you fatter, it's been proven to cause some pretty serious diseases, not the least of which are cancer and neurological diseases. And the proof is on file already. Aspartame has brought more complaints to the FDA than any other additive-ever. It's responsible for a full 75 percent of the complaints the agency gets. From 10,000 consumer complaints, the FDA compiled a list of 92 symptoms, including death. The food industry darling that's sure to increase your appetite, your waistline, and your medical bills Sure, the marketing geniuses would have you think it's health food, but the truth paints a very different picture. Over the years, various reports have implicated aspartame in headaches, memory loss, seizures, vision loss, coma, and cancer. It also appears to worsen or mimic the symptoms of such conditions as fibromyalgia, MS, lupus, ADD, diabetes, Alzheimer's, chronic fatigue, and depression. Aside from these risks, now there's even more proof that these toxins are MAKING US FAT! Some recent research conducted at Purdue University shows that a group of test subjects fed artificial sweeteners subsequently consumed THREE TIMES THE CALORIES of those given ordinary sugar. Safe and effective solutions available in your FREE report Don't get me wrong, I'm not telling you to load up on sugar. Sugar carries its own set of problems that I won't get into here. But as always, there are solutions that let you satisfy your sweet tooth without making yourself sick. And I'll tell you all about them in your FREE report, Escape the Aspartame Trap. I've long been one of America's most outspoken mythbusters. I make it my mission to reveal the surprisingly inexpensive and easy road to real health-to the chagrin of pharmaceutical companies, food giants, and slash-and-burn surgeons everywhere. My name's William Campbell Douglass II, M.D. I've been called "the conscience of modern medicine," and the National Health Federation voted me "Doctor of the Year." But I've also been labeled a "maverick," and several less flattering names, too, by some of the biggest names in government and the health establishment. I've taken more than a few arrows in my time in order to get you the truth-and I wear them like a badge of honor. After all, you deserve to be warned about Band-aid "solutions" that will only make you sicker and promise to send you to an early grave. Trust me-I know how confusing it can be to sift through all the baloney you're indundated with by greedy drug companies and mainstream medicine. That's why I'm happy to offer you this free report, Escape the aspartame trap. Simply enter your email address at the top-right of this page and click "Get my FREE Report" for instant access to Escape the Aspartame Trap. When you do, you'll also receive-absolutely FREE-a subscription to my Daily Dose, an e-letter written by yours truly that I send out via email. The Daily Dose will keep you up to date on health-related news, breakthrough studies, bureaucratic snafus, and revolutionary new products for looking and feeling great. Just enter your email address in the box below to get your free report and to activate your free subscription. And rest assured, I'll never give your email address to anyone, and you can unsubscribe whenever you like. In fact, there are easy unsubscribe instructions in every single email you'll receive. Enter your Email Address to get your free Aspartame Report, Plus Dr. Douglass' health newsletter, The Daily Dose:

Don't know

where do you get this xylitol???

what this mean?

A byproduct of aspertame I think

Phenylketonuria is one of a host of metabolic disorders. People with a metabolic disorder are unable to process a certain nutrient. In the case of PKU, it's phenylalaine. There are many others that are unable to process another nutrient. If you don't avoid that nutrient, it builds up in the body and eventually does damage to the brain or some other organ. http://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/people-feb06.html