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Final answer:Aspartame is not used in cooked foods because it is not heat stable, leading to the loss of its sweet flavor when heated. It breaks down into aspartic acid, phenylalanine, and methanol, with methanol being metabolized into formaldehyde in the body, which is a concern mostly for individuals with PKU.Explanation:Aspartame cannot be used to prepare cooked foods because heat destroys its flavor. Aspartame is a methyl ester of a dipeptide of the amino acids aspartate and phenylalanine. When heated, it is not heat stable, and this instability leads to a breakdown of its sweet flavor. Additionally, in the body or when heated, aspartame is hydrolyzed into three molecules: aspartic acid, phenylalanine, and methanol. Concerns have been raised because the body can metabolize the methanol into formaldehyde. However, the health concerns are generally considered minimal except for individuals with phenylketonuria (PKU), who lack the enzyme to metabolize phenylalanine....