Correct Option (D):
Aspartame is an artificial sweetener that is approximately 200 times sweeter than table sugar (sucrose). Due to this intense sweetness, only a very small quantity of aspartame is required to achieve the desired level of sweetness in food products. Although aspartame is metabolized in the body into its constituent amino acids (aspartic acid and phenylalanine) and methanol, and these metabolites do provide calories, the extremely small amount consumed means its caloric contribution is negligible. This makes it an effective low-calorie sweetening agent.
Incorrect Options:
- Option (A): Aspartame is significantly sweeter than table sugar, not "as sweet as". Furthermore, aspartame is readily metabolized in the human body into its constituent amino acids and methanol; it is not resistant to oxidation due to a lack of requisite enzymes.
- Option (B): Aspartame does not become resistant to oxidation during food processing. Its stability is limited under certain conditions, such as high temperatures or acidic pH, which can lead to its degradation and loss of sweetness.
- Option (C): Aspartame is considerably sweeter than table sugar, not "as sweet as". Moreover, its metabolites (aspartic acid, phenylalanine, and methanol) do yield calories upon metabolism. The low-calorie benefit arises from the minute quantity needed for sweetening, not because its metabolites yield no calories.