European Food Safety Authority Evaluation of Aspartame

February 18th, 2013

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has scrutinized aspartame for its safety as use in food as an artificial sweetener, since its use was initially approved in the U.S. The sweetener is metabolised into aspartic acid, methanol and phenylalanine, constituents which have given basis for concern for adverse health effects. EFSA has now made its first full evaluation of aspartame and published a draft opinion, for which the open public consultation finished on February 15th. The conclusion of the draft, as it stands at present, is that the current exposure estimates fall below the calculated Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI), and unless the public consultation on the draft report brings to light significant reason to think otherwise, it is likely that no change to aspartame use in food stuffs will ensue.