Aspartame is made of the two naturally occurring amino acids, phenylalanine and aspartic acid, which are also components of proteins in our body and in food. Context aspartame is a sweetener that is in use for several decades. The panel based its evaluation on original reports, previous evaluations, additional literature available since these evaluations and the data available. Over 20 years have elapsed since aspartame was approved by regulatory agencies as a sweetener and flavor enhancer. Given the shortcomings of efsas risk assessment of aspartame, and. As a result, consumers have become increasingly concerned about the safety of this artificial sweetener. As part of the announcement efsa release a factsheet, efsa explains the safety of aspartame, to. Reported increases in chromosomal damage in vitro have not been confirmed in vivo the data support efsas conclusion that aspartame is nongenotoxic. Public consultation on the draft scientific opinion on the reevaluation of aspartame as a food additive. The european food safety authority efsa said it considers carefully any new evidence that was not available at the time an opinion is adopted.
A read is counted each time someone views a publication summary such as the title, abstract, and list of authors, clicks on a figure, or views or downloads the fulltext. The current adi for aspartame is deemed to be safe for the general population. The phenylalanine in aspartame has been slightly modified by adding a methyl group which gives aspartame its sweet taste. It is the false history we hear from the manufacturers of aspartame over and over again. Aspartame is a low calorie sweetener that, used on its own to sweeten foods and drinks, tastes just like sugar. Executive summary the draft report on the safety of aspartame, issued by the european food safety authoritys ans panel on 8 january 20, is deeply flawed. European food safety authority efsa aspartame info. The european food safety authority efsa said there is no indication that aspartame causes cancer following its assessment of a study that linked. If this is what efsa calls openness and transparency it fails the laugh test. Based on current evidence on the safety of aspartame, efsa does not recommend that consumers who. Efsa starts aspartame study evaluation bakeryandsnacks.
European food safety authority confirms sucralose is safe. Erik millstone, professor of science policy at the university of sussex, warns that recent research into the artificial sweetener aspartame is being ignored by food regulators. The scf reconfirmed the previously established acceptable daily intake adi for aspartame. The advisory forum of efsa discussed the issue of aspartame in 2007 and at the. On 10 december 20 the european food safety authority published its opinion on aspartame, confirming its safety and the fact that aspartame, and its digested components, bring nothing new to our diet. Many companies are now removing this chemical from products due. In 2011 and 20, efsa, the european food safety authority, updated its opinion on the basis of the most recent studies on aspartame including the assessment of all unpublished studies. Artificial sweeteners and cancer risk in a network of casecontrol studies. Aspartame e 951 is an artificial sweetener authorised as a food additive in the eu that was previously evaluated by jecfa, scf and efsa. The european food safety authority efsa has today launched a public consultation on its draft scientific opinion on the safety of the artificial sweetener aspartame. The ans panel has opted to use what is known as a mode of action, or human relevance approach in. Aspartame was first made in 1965 and approved for use in food products by the u. Aspartame, artificial sweetener, approved by european.
Aspartame is one of the most thoroughly tested food ingredients. The european food safety authority efsa has stated, studies do not. Email chainletters containing misinformation about aspartame are common. Despite of contradictory studies, food safety organizations such as the fda, the fao, and the efsa, are still authorizing daily use of aspartame at an acceptable daily intake dai for all. The efsa ans panel provides a scientific opinion on the safety of aspartame e 951. Scientific opinion on aspartame european food safety. Assessing and reporting uncertainties in dietary exposure analysis. This opinion represents one of the most comprehensive risk assessments of aspartame ever undertaken, said the chair of efsas ans panel, dr.
Scientific opinion on the reevaluation of aspartame e. The european food safety authority efsa has received the primary data for ramazzini foudations recent study on the sweetener aspartame and is commencing its risk assessment as a matter of priority. The discovery of aspartame was a breakthrough in low calorie sweeteners because of its likeness to sugar, and because it has no lingering or metallic aftertaste. The efsa panel on food additives and nutrient sources added to food. Aspartame is safe and approved for people with diabetes, pregnant and nursing women, and children. Remarkably, efsa does not have any rules excluding anyone a priori from joining its. Aspartame administered in feed, beginning prenatally. Scientific opinion on aspartame efsa explains the safety of aspartame all food additives authorised in the european union eu undergo a thorough safety assessment. Efsas opinion on aspartame is a good example of how scientists are working to better explain and outline their risk assessment approaches in their scientific outputs. Since its approval, however, the safety of aspartame has been repeatedly questioned, with discussions focusing. The reevaluation of aspartame was carried out by efsa s panel on food additives and nutrient sources added to food ans. In previous evaluations by jecfa and the scf, an adi of 40 mgkg bwday was established based on chronic toxicity in animals. Aspartame, updated assessment of risks on health, cancer. It is used in many foods and beverages because it is much sweeter than sugar, so much less of it can be used to give the same level of sweetness.
Scientific opinion on the reevaluation of aspartame e 951 as a food additive. The european food safety authority s panel on food additives and nutrient sources added to food has some interesting things to say about aspartame. Aspartame is a sweetener authorised as a food additive in the eu. In efsas 20 scientific opinion of the safety of aspartame, the authority concluded that aspartame and its breakdown products pose no toxicity concern for consumers at current levels of exposure. The present document has been produced and adopted by the bodies identified above as authors. Aspartame is an artificial sweetener, sold under brand names such as nutrasweet and equal, that has been in use in the united states since the early 1980s. On 10 december 20, the european food safety authority efsa released its opinion on the reevaluation of aspartame as a food additive and concluded that aspartame and its breakdown products are safe for human consumption at current intake levels. The food and drug administration fda approves 50 mgkg of aspartame for its adi. The safety of aspartame and its metabolic constituents was established through. Conventional 2year rodent cancer studies of aspartame are considered nega tive, although a small number of neoplasms of the brain were observed in a rat study fed. Since january 2002, the european food safety authority efsa has provided independent scientific advice and communication on risks associated with the food chain.
Aspartame levels still safe, says efsa by sarah hills, 22apr2009. Susan adams ms rd is a seattlebased dietitian serving the food, nutrition and related medical needs of the elderly. Report of the meeting on aspartame with national experts efsa. Atlanta january 8, 20 the calorie control council is pleased that the european food safety authority efsa today released a draft opinion report that reaffirms what scientists and healthcare professionals have known for years. Efsas decisionmaking process may have been biased by conflicts of interest and the distribution and sale of aspartame in the eu should be. Efsa, fda, and other food safety agencies also state that meat, dairy, eggs, and thousands of processed food are safe for consumption, despite enormous evidence than such foods lead to heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and a host of other autoimmune diseases.
Sources added to food ans of the european food safety authority efsa was asked to deliver a scientific opinion on the reevaluation of aspartame e 951 as a food additive. Aspartame is an artificial sweetener used in more than 6,000 products worldwide, ranging from dental floss to childhood medications to regularly consumed foods such as socalled diet sodas. Aspartame nutrasweet, equal, etc is one of the most common artificial. The ntp has explored the use of genetically altered mouse. The food safety body concluded that the current adi acceptable daily intake of aspartame 40 mg per kg of bodyweight per day. Atlanta december 10, 20 the calorie control council is pleased that the european food safety authority efsa today released a final opinion on aspartame that reaffirms what scientists and healthcare professionals have known for years.
Aspartame has received much negative press over the last few years. Draft scientific opinion on the reevaluation of aspartame. She is a former national media spokesperson for the academy of nutrition and dietetics and regularly provides expert counsel to the aspartame resource center. As soon as all the data have been provided to efsa by the institute in bologna, including full pathology reports which are still in preparation, the panel will start its evaluation, said the european food safety authority. Efsa was due to reevaluate all food additives authorised in the eu prior to 2009, including aspartame, by 2020, however any food additive can be reprioritised at any time. This task has been carried out exclusively by the authors in the context of a contract between the european food safety authority and the authors, awarded following a tender procedure. The european food safety authority efsa has denied a suggestion by two meps that it may have lost data relating to a previous safety evaluation of the high intensity sweetener aspartame e951 and that it failed to examine it properly in the first place. Aspartame has been approved in more than 90 countries and is widely used throughout eastern and western europe, the usa, canada, south america, australia, and japan. Efsa conclude aspartame and its breakdown products are. Environmental health trust aspartame environmental. Efsa wraps up aspartame consultation with public meeting. In fact, peak toxicity levels were below the current clinical guidelines. Efsa on aspartame, january and december 20 this document provides an outline critique of the recent publication by the european food safety authority of its scientific opinion on the reevaluation of aspartame e 951 as a food additive, on 10th december 20 and an earlier draft assessment issued on 8th january 20.
The panel also noted that according to the information provided to efsa by industry documentation provided to efsa n. Therefore, at this time, fda finds no reason to alter its previous conclusion that aspartame is safe as a general purpose sweetener in food. Efsa panel on food additives and nutrient sources added to food ans consultation draft scientific opinion on the re. Efsa conclude aspartame and its breakdown products are safe last updated. Although past animal studies found evidence of chronic toxicity, human studies did not produce the same data. Aspartame e 951 is a sweetener authorised as a food additive in the eu that was previously. The contribution of breakdown products of aspartame to the overall dietary exposure to these substances is low, efsa said. Aspartame is an artificial nonsaccharide sweetener 200 times sweeter than sucrose, and is commonly used as a sugar substitute in foods and beverages. Efsa explains the safety of aspartame the canadian. European food safety authority confirms sucralose is safe and does not cause cancer.
Aspartame administered in feed, beginning prenatally through life span, induces cancers of the liver and lung in male swiss mice morando soffritti, md, fiorella belpoggi, dbs, marco manservigi, dbs, eva tibaldi, dbs, michelina lauriola, phd, laura falcioni, dvm, and luciano bua, md background aspartameapmisawell. The efsa began their analysis back in may 2011 at the request of the european commission. Aspartame is an artificial sweetener used throughout the world in food and beverages. It is a methyl ester of the aspartic acidphenylalanine dipeptide with the trade names, nutrasweet, equal, and canderel. Efsa was aware of the upcoming study of the ramazzini. Review of data on the food additive aspartame efsa. Comments submitted by center for science in the public. Like cell phones, aspartame has never been fully evaluated for its long term impact on public health.
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