As a kind of sweetener and flavoring agent for food additives, aspartame has been widely used in nearly one hundred countries around the world. Recently, some animal experiments showed that neurotoxic symp toms and carcinogenesis appeared in some animals received high dose of aspartame. Attention has been paid widely and closely by the public. The safety of aspartame has been reassessed by some international agencies. The absorp tion, distribution, excretion and toxicity of aspartame and the app roval of its use in China and abroad are reviewed.