Aspartame is an artificial food sweetener used in many diet foods. It has a molecular formula of C14H18N2O5. It was discovered in 1965 by James M Schlatter, he was working for G.D. Searle & Company on a project for an anti-ulcer drug. He came across aspartame by having some on his hands without realizing. Sometime during experimenting he licked his finger and learnt its sweet taste. It is used nowadays in diet foods and drinks because, it lacks the energy as in sugar, yet still has a sweet taste, though some claim it to have a strange after-taste. In 1980 a group of independent advisors (PBOI) were charged by the FDA because of examining the link between aspartame and brain cancer. This group of advisors soon concluded that aspartame does not affect the brain at all, though it should not be approved due to unanswered questions. In 1981 the new FDA CEO set a team to review the boards decision to ban Aspartame as a food sweetener. The panel upheld the ban with a 3-2 voted decision, the CEO brought in a 6th member to the commission tying the votes at 3-3. He then broke the tie in aspartames favor, approving it for use as a sweetener in dry goods. In 1983, the FDA further approved aspartame for use in drinks, baked goods and then in 1993 for confectionary. 1996 saw the FDA remove any restrictions to the use of aspartame, allowing it into any food on the public market.