Nutrition Foundation defends safety of aspartame

For immediate release August 1 2007

New Zealand Nutrition Foundation defends the safety of aspartame

The New Zealand Nutrition Foundation is concerned that consumers will worry unnecessarily about the safety of aspartame, due to recent media reports on claims from lobbyist groups. Aspartame is a low energy sweetener, used in many food and beverage products.

Sue Pollard, Chief Executive Officer of the New Zealand Nutrition Foundation said today,

“Aspartame is a sugar-free sweetener that has been available worldwide for more than two decades and enjoyed by millions of consumers who want a low calorie alternative to sugar. It has been approved for use repeatedly, by independent food and health regulators throughout the world.

“It goes against all the evidence to imply this ingredient is unsafe.”

The Foundation agrees with Sandra Daly, Deputy Chief Executive of the New Zealand Food Safety Authority (NZFSA) who stated,

“Aspartame is probably one of the most studied products on sale today, and there is an extensive body of evidence that tells us it is a safe product that offers consumers a sweet low-calorie option in their diet.”

“NZFSA continually assesses the weight of sound, scientific evidence that surrounds the use of all products, including aspartame. We can find no scientific basis for claims that the product is not safe to consume in sensible quantities.

“Aspartame is an intense sweetener – about 200 times sweeter than sugar – and has been used in soft drinks and other low-calorie or sugar-free foods around the world for the past 25 years.

“Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) carried out a survey in September 2003 which found that average consumers reached only 6% of the Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI), while high consumers reached only 15% of the ADI.

“Extensive studies have shown that, even if taken in high doses, the metabolites of this sweetener do not accumulate in toxic amounts. An adult would have to consume 14 cans of a sugar-free drink every day before reaching the acceptable daily intake (ADI) of aspartame. And they would need to do that every day of their lives before possibly showing any ill effects”.

Ends

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