US approves aspartame as ersatz sweetener

The Food and Drug Administration approved aspartame, an artificial sweetener seen as a partial substitute for saccharin, for limited use in cold cereals, drink mixes, and other food products. This is the first time a new sugar substitute has been approved since the government banned cyclamates -- once the dominant artificial sweetener -- over a decade ago. Saccharin is the only other approved artificial sweetener for use in the US.