Phenylalanine in diet soda: Is it harmful?

The label on my favorite diet soda says it contains phenylalanine. I thought I read somewhere that phenylalanine is bad for your health.

Phenylalanine is an essential amino acid (a building block for proteins in the body), meaning the body needs it for health but cannot make it. You have to get it from food.

source: http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/phenylalanine-000318.htm

You're welcome.

:/