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Food Standards Agency Confident in Safety of Aspartame

New Study to Address Anecdotal Reports

ATLANTA (June 30, 2009) – The Calorie Control Council, an association representing the low-calorie food and beverage industry, supports the Food Standards Agency’s (FSA) conclusion that there are no safety concerns regarding aspartame and welcomes a pilot study investigating anecdotal adverse effects related to aspartame.   

“This research is not to test the safety of aspartame – that is already established.  The study will address consumer concerns, including anecdotal reports that have linked a range of conditions to aspartame,” stated Andrew Wadge, Chief Scientist at the FSA.   

The Council is confident that the study, once completed, will re-affirm what the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and other leading health and regulatory agencies worldwide have concluded over the past 20 years: aspartame is safe.    

Over the years some consumers have reported symptoms which they believed were associated with aspartame. The FDA has investigated these allegations and concluded 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."

Further, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reviewed 517 of these anecdotal reports and stated, "the majority of frequently reported symptoms were mild and are symptoms that are common in the general populace" and that "focused" clinical studies would be the best way to evaluate these complaints. As a result, numerous scientific studies "focused" on these allegations were conducted by expert researchers at major academic institutions. The results of these studies overwhelmingly demonstrated that aspartame is not associated with adverse health effects, including headaches, seizures, changes in mood, cognition, behavior or allergic reactions.

The wealth of scientific evidence clearly demonstrates that aspartame is safe and not associated with adverse health effects. "The FSA study will reconfirm what has been found time and time again by regulatory agencies worldwide and lay to rest unfounded public concern," stated Lyn Nabors, President of the Calorie Control Council.

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