Why does heating up aspartame over 86 degrees cause it to become formaldehyde?

Question

And since aspartame becomes formaldehyde above 86 degree's am I formaldehyding myself by taking it since my saliva is 96 degrees?

Answer 1

Or what about that warm diet pop I just drank.

Answer 2

Aspartame does not become formaldehyde at temperatures above 86 degrees. That is an urban legend - check out this page:

http://www.snopes.com/medical/toxins/aspartame.asp

Answer 3

Heat causes the methanol in aspartame to release and be available to be metabolized in your body to become formaldehyde. So if you shop at a store that puts their diet drinks out on the curb in the summer...avoid them like the plague.