Aspartame, one of the most commonly used artificial sweeteners in the world, has been declared totally safe for human consumption at the current levels of exposure by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA).
The Authority based its findings on one of the most comprehensive risk assessments of aspartame and its breakdown products ever undertaken. It involved a rigorous review of all the available scientific research, including both animal and human studies.
After a detailed analysis and taking into consideration all available information, EFSA experts concluded that the current acceptable daily intake (ADI) of 40mg/kg of body weight daily does not pose any long- or short-term health concerns for people.
The ADI level is an estimate of the amount a person can consume each day over a lifetime without risking their health.
EFSA experts firmly ruled out the possibility of aspartame causing damage to genes and inducing cancer. They also concluded that the substance neither harms the brain or nervous system nor affects behaviour or cognitive functions in adults.
Dr Rajeev Chawla, senior consultant diabetologist and director North Delhi Diabetes Centre, New Delhi, said, “Safety concerns have been aired on and off about the consumption of aspartame in the 25 years since it was approved as a food additive.”
“It has proved to be a boon to people who need to avoid table sugar. I hope that this comprehensive review of aspartame by EFSA experts would finally put the controversy about its safety to rest,” he added.
“This should also strengthen the consumer confidence in the aspartame based products,” Dr Chawla said.
Aspartame is an intense low-calorie, non-saccharide sweetener, which is used in yoghurts, chewing gum, diet foods, soft drinks and other low-calorie or sugar-free foods across the globe. It is a white, odourless powder, approximately 200 times sweeter than sugar.
