§ Mrs. Peacockasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether the studies into the effects of aspartame on girls around the age of puberty to which he referred in his reply to the hon. Member for Batley and Spen on 15 December, Official Report, c. 575, considered i n particular those girls suffering from phenylketonuria; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. John PattenThe studies to which I referred did not consider in particular girls around the age of puberty affected by phenylketonuria. Aspartame is but one source of dietary phenylalanine of which the intake from all sources must be strictly controlled for phenylketonurics. In this respect adolescent girls are no different from other people with phenylketonuria. Advice on the use of aspartame by such people has been given to those responsible for their care by the Department's chief medical officer.