Key points from article :
Neotame, a sweetener used in cakes, drinks and chewing gum, can damage the gut.
Consumption may lead to irritable bowel syndrome, insulin resistance, and sepsis.
Neotame harms gut health by turning good bacteria to diseased and making them invade the gut wall.
This process weakens the gut barrier and can cause illness.
The study is the first to show neotame's damaging impact on healthy gut bacteria.
Prior studies showed that other sweeteners like saccharin and aspartame have similar effects.
Researchers call for further study on the risks of recently developed sweeteners.
Even low neotame intake may be harmful, and European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) is reviewing its safety.
Study led by Havovi Chichger from Anglia Ruskin University, published in Frontiers in Nutrition.
