You may have heard previously that sugar is bad for consumers, but the artificial sweeteners are often mentioned as being even more detrimental for consumer health (see e.g.: Coca-Cola 'under pressure' from consumers over Diet Coke aspartame use). The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) announced yesterday its opinion on one of the most commonly used sweeteners - aspartame. It conducted a full risk assessment thereof and concluded that this substance is safe at current levels of exposure (current acceptable daily intake is estimated at 40mg/kg bw/day). In their studies experts have ruled out a possibility of aspartame causing damage to genes and inducing cancer, harming the brain, the nervous system or affecting behaviour or cognitive functions of its users. The breakdown products of aspartame appear naturally in other foods and therefore should not be seen as posing additional risks, either.Wednesday, 11 December 2013
Sweeteners remain sweet
You may have heard previously that sugar is bad for consumers, but the artificial sweeteners are often mentioned as being even more detrimental for consumer health (see e.g.: Coca-Cola 'under pressure' from consumers over Diet Coke aspartame use). The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) announced yesterday its opinion on one of the most commonly used sweeteners - aspartame. It conducted a full risk assessment thereof and concluded that this substance is safe at current levels of exposure (current acceptable daily intake is estimated at 40mg/kg bw/day). In their studies experts have ruled out a possibility of aspartame causing damage to genes and inducing cancer, harming the brain, the nervous system or affecting behaviour or cognitive functions of its users. The breakdown products of aspartame appear naturally in other foods and therefore should not be seen as posing additional risks, either.
