NEW YORK (AP) — NutraSweet says it will no longer make the artificial sweetener aspartame and instead concentrate on more profitable sweeteners.

The company expects to shut down a major portion of a plant that employs about 210 workers by year-end as a result.

NutraSweet CEO William DeFer said in a statement foreign competition was the primary reason for the decision.

"Low cost imports now dominate the aspartame market, making it impossible for us to sustain a profitable business while maintaining our unmatched standard of quality," DeFer said.

NutraSweet noted the plant in Augusta, Georgia had supplied customers around the world for more than 30 years. In addition to aspartame, it makes neotame and Twinsweet.