How much aspartame is in one packet?

December 7, 2025 •

3 min read

A standard 1-gram packet of aspartame-containing sweetener holds roughly 40 milligrams of the substance. This is a small fraction of the daily intake levels considered safe by health organizations.

Quick Summary

The aspartame quantity in a single sweetener packet varies slightly, but generally ranges from 35 to 40 milligrams. This article details the specific amounts in common brands like Equal and NutraSweet, compares them to other sweeteners, and discusses how this amount relates to recommended daily safety limits.

Key Points

Typical Amount: A single aspartame sweetener packet, such as Equal, generally contains 35-40 milligrams of aspartame.
Common Brands: Brands like Equal (blue packet) and NutraSweet use aspartame as their primary sweetener.
Fillers Present: Sweetener packets also contain fillers like dextrose and maltodextrin, which make up the bulk of the 1-gram weight.
Not all packets are aspartame: Other brands like Sweet'N Low (pink) use saccharin, not aspartame.
Low Risk: Aspartame is safe within recommended daily intake (ADI) levels, which are far higher than amounts found in casual packet use.
ADI Limit: An adult would have to consume dozens of packets daily to approach or exceed the Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI) of aspartame.
High Potency: Aspartame is approximately 200 times sweeter than sugar, which explains why so little is required.

Aspartame Concentration by Sweetener Brand

The amount of aspartame per packet varies by brand, as some contain a blend of sweeteners. However, brands that primarily use aspartame have a consistent concentration. NutraSweet and Equal are known to use aspartame as their primary low-calorie sweetener. The total weight of a single packet is usually 1 gram, but fillers like dextrose and maltodextrin are used to bulk up the packet and aid in dispensing, as aspartame is 200 times sweeter than sugar and requires very little to sweeten.

The Breakdown of a Standard Aspartame Packet

For products like Equal, an aspartame-based sweetener, the composition is a mix of ingredients. A packet of Equal contains dextrose, maltodextrin, and a small percentage of aspartame (1.7%) and acesulfame potassium (1.2%). This combination results in the final milligram count per packet. The small amount of actual aspartame makes the final product zero-calorie, despite fillers being present.

Comparing Aspartame with Other Sweeteners

To understand aspartame's concentration, comparing it to other artificial sweeteners is helpful. The amount of the active sweetening agent differs significantly between products, which is important for consumers.


Sweetener Brand	Active Sweetening Ingredient	Approximate Milligrams per Packet	Notes
Equal (Blue Packet)	Aspartame, Acesulfame K	35-40 mg	Contains fillers like dextrose and maltodextrin.
NutraSweet	Aspartame	40 mg	Also uses dextrose and maltodextrin as fillers.
Sweet'N Low (Pink Packet)	Saccharin	20 mg	Note: Contains no aspartame.
Splenda (Yellow Packet)	Sucralose	13 mg	About 600 times sweeter than sugar.
Truvia (Green Packet)	Stevia leaf extract	Varies by formulation	Derived from a plant; not an artificial sweetener.

The Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI) of Aspartame

Health and regulatory bodies worldwide have established an Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI) for aspartame, considered safe to consume every day over a lifetime. It is a conservative estimate based on extensive research.

FDA Guidelines: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the United States sets the ADI for aspartame at 50 milligrams per kilogram of body weight per day.
WHO/EFSA Guidelines: The World Health Organization (WHO) and the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) recommend an ADI of 40 milligrams per kilogram of body weight per day.
Calculating your ADI: You can calculate your personal limit based on your weight. For a 150-pound (68 kg) individual, the FDA's ADI is approximately 3,400 mg per day, which equates to over 80 packets of aspartame-containing sweetener. For a person weighing 132 pounds (60 kg), the FDA's ADI is 3,000 mg, or about 75 packets.

Is it easy to exceed the daily limit?

It is extremely difficult for the average person to exceed the recommended daily intake of aspartame simply by using sweetener packets. The bulk of a single packet is composed of fillers like dextrose and maltodextrin. A person would need to consume dozens of packets per day to approach the ADI, a level far beyond typical consumption. The minute amount of aspartame in a single packet is not a cause for concern for the general population.

Conclusion: The Final Tally

The quantity of aspartame in one packet is a small fraction of the total weight, typically ranging from 35 to 40 milligrams for brands like Equal and NutraSweet. This tiny amount provides significant sweetness because aspartame is 200 times sweeter than sugar. The milligram amount is well below the Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI) set by major health organizations, indicating that it is safe for the vast majority of people when consumed as part of a balanced diet. Individuals with phenylketonuria must avoid aspartame, but for others, casual use of these packets is not a safety concern. Understanding the difference between the bulk filler and the active sweetener provides clarity on why so little is needed for the desired sweetening effect.

Visit the FDA website for more information on approved sweeteners.

Frequently Asked Questions

A single packet of Equal typically contains about 35 to 40 milligrams of aspartame. The rest of the 1-gram packet weight is made up of fillers like dextrose and maltodextrin.

No, Sweet'N Low packets in the United States do not contain aspartame. The active sweetener in the pink packets is saccharin.

For an average adult, it would take consuming dozens of aspartame packets to reach the Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI) set by health authorities. The FDA's ADI is 50 mg/kg of body weight, meaning a 150-pound person would have to consume over 80 packets to hit this threshold.

Aspartame is about 200 times sweeter than regular sugar. This high potency means only a tiny amount is needed to achieve the desired level of sweetness, with fillers added to create a standard 1-gram packet size for easier measurement and use.

No, many different types of sugar substitutes exist. For example, Splenda contains sucralose (yellow packet), Sweet'N Low contains saccharin (pink packet), and Truvia contains stevia extract (green packet).

While the active sweetener is aspartame, the primary ingredients by weight in a 1-gram packet are usually fillers such as dextrose and maltodextrin. These agents add bulk to the packet.

No, for most people, it is very difficult to exceed the Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI) through normal consumption. You would have to consume an exceptionally large number of packets and diet beverages throughout the day to approach the safety limits.