Monsanto expands FDA neotame petition:

Food & Drink Weekly, Jan 25, 1999

Monsanto Co. is petitioning FDA for general approval of a new sweetener, neotame, that it said is "the next generation" of low-calorie sugar substitutes. Monsanto earlier sought FDA approval for neotame as a tabletop sweetener. The latest petition would broaden the potential applications to include its use as an ingredient in beverages and food, including baked products.

Neotame is formed from combination of proteins/amino acids and two organic groups. It is about 8,000 times sweeter than sugar, so it can be used in lesser quantities, thus, making foods containing neotame lower in calories.