The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has concluded that aspartame and its breakdown products are safe for human consumption at current levels of exposure.
The announcement comes following a full risk assessment of the aspartame, which included a review of all available scientific research on sweetener and its breakdown products.
EFSA's Panel on Food Additives and Nutrient Sources Added to Foods (ANS Panel) have concluded that the current acceptable daily intake (ADI) of 40mg/kg bw/day is protective; however, it is not applicable to those suffering from the medical condition phenylketonuria (PKU).
The experts stated that aspartame causes no potential risk of damage to genes and inducing cancer as well as does not harm the brain, the nervous system or affect behavior or cognitive function in children or adults.
ANS Panel chair Dr Alicja Mortensen said, "This opinion represents one of the most comprehensive risk assessments of aspartame ever undertaken. It's a step forward in strengthening consumer confidence in the scientific underpinning of the EU food safety system and the regulation of food additives."
This decision makes clear that aspartame breakdown products such as phenylalanine, methanol and aspartic acid are also naturally present in other foods.
