Aspartame Safety: ADI, Metabolism, Estimated Intakes and Common Concerns

Aspartame: Impact on Appetite, Food Intake, and Weight Management

European Food Safety Authority Reaffirms Aspartame Safety

American Dietetic Association Finds Aspartame Does Not Increase Appetite or Food Intake (AboutAspartame.com)

New Study Finds Aspartame, Stevia Sweeteners Do Not Increase Hunger Levels or Increase Desire to Eat More (CCC)

NIH/NCI Study Confirms Safety of Aspartame (CCC)

No Relationship Between Low-Calorie Sweeteners and Cancer (CCC)

Health Benefits of Physical Activity

Straight Facts on Aspartame & Health
Toxicologist Dr. Bernadene Magnuson, lead author or a recent expert panel review of aspartame safety, reviews the panel’s findings regarding aspartame metabolism, intakes, and research into common concerns.

EFSA Reaffirms Aspartame Safety Based on European Expert Panel Findings (EFSA)
Experts from EU member countries convened by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) to address lingering public concerns about aspartame’s wide use identified no new evidence to recommend changes to previous opinions established by the EFSA’s Scientific Committee on Food.

Aspartame: Evidence-Based Analysis - American Dietetic Association Evidence Analysis Library
A 2009 research review by the American Dietetic Association concludes that using aspartame as a sweetener has no effect on appetite or food intake.

Expert Panel Affirms Aspartame Safety (Medscape)
An extensive review of the existing of science related to the safety of aspartame by eight of the world's leading toxicologists has concluded that aspartame is safe even at the highest level of current consumption and that suggestions of adverse effects, including those raised by recent rat studies in Italy, have 'no credible scientific basis.

U.S. National Cancer Institute Study Finds Aspartame Does Not Increase Cancer Risk (NIH)
A study of about half a million people, published in 2006, compared people who drank aspartame-containing beverages with those who did not. Results of the study showed that increasing levels of consumption were not associated with any risk of lymphomas, leukemias, or brain cancers in men or women.

Use of Nutritive and Nonnutritive Sweeteners - Position of the American Dietetic Association
J Am Dietet Assoc. 2004;104:255-275. "By increasing palatability of nutrient-dense foods/beverages, sweeteners can promote diet healthfulness. Scientific evidence supports neither that intakes of nutritive sweeteners by themselves increase the risk of obesity nor that nutritive or nonnutritive sweeteners cause behavioral disorders. However, nutritive sweeteners increase risk of dental caries. High fructose intakes may cause hypertriglyceridemia and gastrointestinal symptoms in susceptible individuals. Thus, it is the position of The American Dietetic Association that consumers can safely enjoy a range of nutritive and nonnutritive sweeteners when consumed in a diet that is guided by current federal nutrition recommendations, such as the Dietary Guidelines for Americans and the Dietary References Intakes, as well as individual health goals."

Weight Management: Position of the American Dietetic Association - Position of the American Dietetic Association
J Am Dietet Assoc. 2009; 109(2):330- 346. "This position paper presents the current data and recommendations for weight management, including the evidence supporting the value of portion control, eating frequency, meal replacements, and very-low-energy and very-low-energy diets, physical activity, behavior therapy, pharmacotherapy, and surgery."

Health Canada
Article reviews allegations, provides facts on aspartame safety.

New Zealand Food Safety Authority: Link between aspartame and formaldehyde scaremongering
"There are many foods where formaldehyde is naturally produced as part of normal digestion. Tomatoes and citrus fruits produce far more than aspartame. It's normal and not at all harmful in the levels produced," says New Zealand Food Safety Authority expert toxicologist John Reeve.

Straight Facts about Aspartame And Other Low-Calorie Sweeteners (Webinar)
In this program, Harvard University obesity expert, Dr. George L. Blackburn, addresses the impact of low- and no-calorie sweeteners on appetite and food intake as well as their usefulness in weight management. Food safety expert, Dr. Bernadene Magnuson discusses recently published safety findings from an expert review panel on aspartame.

Everything You Need to Know About Aspartame (IFIC)
One of a series of International Food Information Council educational brochures on low- and no-calorie sweeteners.

Science Policy Paper on Aspartame (GMA)
This Grocery Manufacturers Association review summarizes scientific research, regulatory history, consumption and uses in foods and beverages, with attention to the science that addresses misinformation commonly found on the internet.

Lowdown on Low-Calorie Sweeteners
Referenced booklet provides science-based information about low- and no-calorie sweeteners. Covers acceptable daily intakes, estimates of current US consumption levels, impact on appetite and body weight.

How Sweet It Is
A concise consumer-oriented brochure based on The Lowdown on Low-Calorie Sweeteners reference booklet.

Questions and Answers About Low-Calorie Sweeteners, Appetite and Weight Management (IFIC)
This International Food Information Council booklet covers the five low- and no-calorie sweeteners approved in the United States: acesulfame potassium (Ace-K), aspartame, neotame, saccharin, and sucralose.

IFIC Review: Low-Calorie Sweeteners and Health (IFIC)
This International Food Information Council Foundation publication reviews the research related to low- and no-calorie sweeteners and health.

The Role of Low-Calorie Sweeteners in Weight Control (CCC)
A Calorie Control Council publication.

BMI Calculator for Adults

Calorie Needs Calculator for Adults

Calories Burned Calculator for Adults

Beverage Calorie Comparison Tool

ChooseMyPlate.gov Interactive Tools (USDA)

MyFood-a-Pedia (USDA)

Portion Distortion Interactive Quiz (NHLBI)

Food Calorie Calculator (CCC)

Diet Assessment Calorie Calculator (CCC)

Effects of stevia, aspartame, and sucrose on food intake, satiety, and postprandial glucose and insulin levels.
Anton SD, Martin CK, Han H, Coulon S, Cefalu WT, Geiselman P, Williamson DA. Appetite. 2010;55(1):37-43.

American Dietetic Association Evidence Analysis Library – Aspartame (2009)

Nonnutritive sweetener consumption in humans: effects on appetite and food intake and their putative mechanisms.
Mattes R and Popkin B. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 2009; 89:1-14.

Use of artificial sweeteners and fat-modified foods in weight loss maintainers and always-normal weight individuals.
Phelan S, Lang W, Jordan D, Wing RR. Int J Obes 2009;33(10):1183-90.

Aspartame: a safety evaluation based on current use levels, regulations, and toxicological and epidemiological studies.
Magnuson BA, Burdock GA, Doull J, Kroes RM, Marsh GM, Pariza MW, Spencer PS, Waddell WJ, Walker R, Williams GM. Critical Reviews in Toxicology. 2007, 37:629-727.

Intense sweeteners, energy intake and the control of body weight.
Bellisle F and Drewnowski A. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 2007; 61: 691-700.

A review of the effectiveness of aspartame in helping with weight control.
Ashwell, M, Gibson, S, de la Hunty, A. British Nutrition Bulletin 2006;31(2):115-128.

Reported use of reduced-sugar foods and beverages reflect high-quality diets.
Sigman-Grant MJ and Hsieh G J Food Sci. 2005; 70:S42-46.

Use of nutritive and non-nutritive sweeteners.
Position statement of The American Dietetic Association. J Am Diet Assoc. 2004;104:255-75.

Intense sweeteners and energy density of foods: implications for weight control.
Drewnowski A. Eur J Clin Nutr. 1999 Oct; 53(10):757-63.

The effect of aspartame as part of a multidisciplinary weight-control program on short- and long term control of body weight.
Blackburn GL, Kanders BS, Lavin PT, Keller SD, and Whatley J. Am J Clinl Nutr. 1997; 65, 409-418.

EFSA Report of the Meetings on Aspartame with National Experts

Aspartame Resource Center

Aspartame Information Center

American Diabetes Association

American Dietetic Association

The National Cancer Institute

Calorie Control Council

International Food Information Council

European Food Information Council

Asian Food Information Council

International Sweeteners Association

Drinking low- and no-calorie beverages does not stimulate your appetite or make you gain weight. Reliable studies show that a person’s hunger reaction after drinking low- and no-calorie beverages is no different than when he or she drinks water. Neither low- and no-calorie beverages nor any other single food or beverage is responsible for the problems of overweight and obesity facing society today. Excess weight is gained when you take in more calories than your body burns, no matter where those calories come from. It’s important to remember that all calories count, including those from our caloric beverages. Too many calories or too little physical activity will produce weight gain.

Studies have shown that food and beverages containing low- and no-calorie sweeteners can help you manage your weight, and that people who use reduced-calorie products in their diets have an overall healthier diet. When it comes to satisfying your appetite (satiety), HFCS is as effective as sugar (sucrose). A 2007 study comparing cola beverages sweetened with HFCS or sucrose showed no difference in hunger, satiety or short-term calorie intake. A new study published in March 2010 found that low-calorie sweeteners can be a useful tool to help manage total daily calorie intake. Learn more.