dipeptide neotame A dipeptide composed of N-(3,3-dimethylbutyl)-L-aspartic acid and methyl L-phenylalanate units joined by a peptide linkage. Europe::961 Codex::961 LanguaL term definition: Food additive; technological purpose(s): flavour enhancer, sweetener. Neotame is an artificial sweetener made by NutraSweet that is between 7,000 and 13,000 times as sweet as sucrose (table sugar). Neotame was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for general use in July 2002, and has now been approved by the EU to become a classified E number (E961), but it is not yet widely used in food products. Neotame also is approved for use in Australia and New Zealand. It is assigned the International Numbering System (INS) food additive code 961. neotame