On Mon 01 Aug 2005 09:49:52a, Tom or Mary wrote in rec.food.cooking:

> My local grocery store is selling a store brand of drink called Fruit
> Factor. It has no calories, but is highly flavored. I like it, but I
> notice that it has an ingredient called Phenylketonurics. Someone once
> said if you cannot pronounce it do not ingest it. Anyone know anything
> about it.
>
> Thanks
>
> Tom
>
>
>

Phenylketonurics is not the ingredient. Phenylketonurics are people who
lack a certain enzyme that can properly process the ingredient,
phenylalanine.

Phenylalanine is a naturally occuring aromatic amino acid. It's
frequently added to beverages and food products to enhance the flavor
and/or sweeteness of the product.

Toxicity is rare in dietary intake but large amounts in supplement form
may play havoc with your blood pressure and cause headaches, nausea and
heartburn. Large amounts of this nutrient may also cause nerve damage.

However, phenylalanine is highly toxic for people who are phenylketonuric.

HTH




--
Wayne Boatwright *¿*
____________________________________________

Give me a smart idiot over a stupid genius any day.
Sam Goldwyn, 1882-1974