Aspartame was accidentally discovered in 1965 by James M. Schlatter, a chemist working for G.D. Searle& Company. Schlatter had synthesized aspartame as an intermediate step in generating a tetrapeptide of the hormone gastrin, for use in assessing an anti-ulcer drug candidate. He discovered its sweet taste when he licked his finger, which had become contaminated with aspartame, to lift up a piece of paper. It is composed of components: aspartic acid, phenylalanine and methanol