Additives
Is aspartame safe?
Generally Yes
Regulators worldwide consider aspartame safe within the acceptable daily intake, which is far higher than what most people consume. People with PKU must avoid it.
The details
Aspartame is a low-calorie artificial sweetener about 200 times sweeter than sugar, used in diet sodas, sugar-free gum and many 'light' products.
The FDA and EFSA have set an acceptable daily intake (ADI) that would require drinking many cans of diet soda per day to exceed. In 2023 the WHO's IARC classified it as 'possibly carcinogenic' but the joint expert committee kept the existing ADI, meaning normal intake is considered safe.
People with the genetic condition phenylketonuria (PKU) cannot metabolize phenylalanine and must avoid aspartame.
Key points
- Approved by FDA, EFSA and other regulators
- Normal intake is far below the safety limit
- Must be avoided by people with PKU
- Helps reduce sugar and calorie intake