Reuters

Artificial sweetener maker NutraSweet Co said on Wednesday may well exit its aspartame business after the entire year, citing increasing foreign competition.

Aspartame, that is certainly about 200 times sweeter than sugar, is trusted to sweeten diet sodas.

“Low-cost imports now dominate the aspartame market, turning it into impossible for people to sustain a profitable business …,” Us president William DeFer said from a statement.

The company markets its aspartame-based sweeteners in the model NutraSweet aspartame.

NutraSweet, that sells brands like neotame and Twinsweet, said it would turn off its aspartame and L-phenylalanine production plant in Augusta, Georgia.

The company claimed it would offer severance payments and help the about 210 people employed within the plant.

NutraSweet’s exit leaves Merisant as being a major player during the aspartame-based artificial sweetener business.

Merisant can\’t be immediately reached for comment.

Beverage companies have struggled to carry to customers amid fears for the safety of FDA-approved aspartame, which includes sweetened diet soda for 10 years.

However, the ecu Union’s food safety watchdog said in December that aspartame posed no health threats at currently approved consumption levels.