Phenylketonurics - too many letters to care.

Roger O'Reily comes through again. The warning label on the side of Diet Soda, the one that says phenylketonurics: contains phenylalaine in big bold letters? Here's what it means.

From "The Warning Label Book" open in front of me:

"Factoid: Phenylketonurics are people who suffer from phenylketonuria (PKU), a disease that makes it difficult to metabolize phenylalaine, an amino acid found in aspartame (used in NutraSweet and Equal). Aspartame ingested by women with PKU during pregnancy can cause mental retardation in the unborn child. All products containing aspartame should spell out the dangers to phenylketonurics and also warn pregnant women to be tested for PKU before ingesting any food or drink containing aspartame. Also the FDA has concluded that experimental data "appear to suggest the possibility that aspartame . . . may contribute to the development of brain tumors." Why aren't these warnings on the side of a can of diet Coke? You don't suppose it would hurt sales, do you?"