Frequently Asked Questions
about the Use of Aspartame in Low-Calorie Foods and Beverages
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PDF version of the Aspartame FAQs
 Can
people with diabetes consume aspartame?
 Yes. The American Diabetes Association states that aspartame is a safe and
useful sweetener for people with diabetes. Aspartame makes food taste sweet
and does not contribute calories or raise blood sugar levels. About 90 percent
of people with diabetes use aspartame-sweetened products. Foods and
beverages sweetened with aspartame offer people with diabetes a much wider
variety of products from which to choose and greater flexibility in budgeting
their total carbohydrate intake. Thus, it can help them follow nutrition
recommendations and still enjoy good-tasting foods.
Does
aspartame affect blood sugar control in people with diabetes?
No. Research shows that aspartame does not affect short-term
or long-term blood sugar levels in people with
diabetes. The American Diabetes Association states “Aspartame has been approved by the Food and Drug
Administration, a governmental agency that conducts thorough
scientific review to determine foods that are safe for public consumption.
(We) follow FDA recommendations and recognize there is no credible
scientific evidence linking aspartame to any health-related problems for
people with diabetes.”
Does
aspartame cause adverse health effects?
No. The overwhelming body of scientific evidence clearly demonstrates that
aspartame, even in amounts many times more than what people typically
consume, is safe and not associated with adverse health effects. The FDA
has investigated alleged complaints since 1982 and stated that there is no “reasonable evidence of possible public health harm” and “no consistent or
unique patterns of symptoms reported with respect to aspartame that can be
causally linked to its use.” The trend for anecdotal reports of adverse effects
from aspartame declined markedly over the years since the 1985 peak, when
there were many unfounded allegations about aspartame in the media.
In 1984, the FDA commissioned the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) to
review complaints which some consumers related to their use of aspartame.
After a review of 517 complaints, the CDC found that the complaints “do not
provide evidence of the existence of serious, widespread, adverse health
consequences attendant to the use of aspartame.” The CDC further noted, “The majority of frequently reported symptoms were mild and are symptoms
that are common in the general populace.”
In response to these complaints, numerous additional scientific studies
were done by prominent researchers at major academic institutions; the
results of these studies overwhelmingly demonstrate that
aspartame is not associated with adverse health effects,
including headaches, seizures, changes in mood, cognition or behavior, or allergic reactions.
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