EFSA reaffirms aspartame safety within current consumption limits

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has reaffirmed that aspartame remains safe for human consumption within current regulatory limits. This conclusion follows a re-evaluation of the aspartame-acesulfame salt (E962), a common additive in diet products and sugar-free beverages.

In its technical opinion, the EFSA ratified the acceptable daily intake (ADI) of 40 mg per kilogram of body weight for aspartame and 15 mg per kilogram for acesulfame K. The agency stated that consumption levels across all age groups in Europe remain below these thresholds and found no evidence to justify changing previous safety conclusions.

The decision comes three years after the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), an arm of the World Health Organization (WHO), classified aspartame as “possibly carcinogenic to humans” (Group 2B). While the IARC assesses potential hazards, the EFSA focuses on actual risk based on typical exposure levels. For context, the WHO noted that a person weighing 60 to 70 kg would need to consume between nine and 14 cans of diet soda per day to exceed the ADI.

In Brazil, Anvisa maintains similar recommendations, stating that aspartame consumption is safe when respecting the 40 mg per kg limit. Meanwhile, some consumer advocacy groups have criticized the EFSA's findings, claiming the agency ignored recent evidence.