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WHAT IS ASPARTAME? and Their Juices

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WHAT IS ASPARTAME? and Their Juices ASPARTAME WHAT IS ASPARTAME? and their juices. The amount of in foods that require baking for a long methanol resulting from consuming time because prolonged exposure to Aspartame is a low-calorie an aspartame-sweetened beverage is high temperatures can cause it to lose sweetener that has been used for about five to six times less than that its sweetness. decades as a way to lower one’s intake resulting from the same volume of of added sugars while still providing tomato juice.1 satisfaction from enjoying something Aspartame can be used as an BY THE INTERNATIONAL FOOD INFORMATION COUNCIL sweet. Aspartame is about 200 times ingredient in beverages (such as diet sweeter than sugar, and as such only sodas, light or low-sugar juices and a small amount of the sweetener flavored waters), dairy products (such is needed to match the sweetness as light yogurt and low-fat flavored provided by sugar. In tabletop packets milk), nutrition bars, desserts (such and prepared foods and beverages, as sugar-free puddings and gelatins, aspartame is often blended with other light ice cream and popsicles), sweeteners or food components to chewing gum, sauces, syrups and minimize bitter flavors and enhance condiments. Aspartame is also found overall taste. in several types of low-calorie tabletop Aspartame consists of two amino sweeteners. The most common brand acids—aspartic acid and phenylalanine. of aspartame tabletop sweetener When ingested, aspartame is broken in the U.S. is Equal®. Brands outside down into these amino acids for use the U.S. include Canderel® (found in in protein synthesis and metabolism. Europe) and Pal Sweet® (found in In addition to aspartic acid and Asia). In addition, some prescription phenylalanine, aspartame digestion and over-the-counter medications also yields a small amount of methanol, and chewable vitamins may contain a compound that is naturally found aspartame to increase their palatability. in foods like fruits and vegetables Aspartame is not well-suited for use 2 ASPARTAME aspartame and many common foods like milk, cheese, nuts and meat. Individuals with PKU need to avoid or restrict their intake of phenylalanine from all sources. All packaged foods and beverages with aspartame as an ingredient are required by the FDA to have a statement on the label informing consumers of phenylalanine’s presence. CAN CHILDREN CONSUME ASPARTAME? IS ASPARTAME SAFE TO effect-level (NOAEL) in toxicology CONSUME? studies. The ADI is a conservative YES. Aspartame metabolism is YES. Aspartame is one of the most number that the vast majority of people the same in healthy children as it is exhaustively studied ingredients in the will not reach. Using the ADI established in healthy adults. The EFSA, FDA and human food supply, with more than by the FDA, a person weighing 150 JECFA have concluded that aspartame 200 studies supporting its safety. The pounds (68 kg) would exceed the ADI is safe for adults and children to U.S. Food and Drug Administration (3,400 mg of aspartame) if consuming consume within the ADI. Just like with (FDA) approved its use in dry foods in more than an average of 19 cans of adults, the only exception is for children 1981, in carbonated beverages in 1983 diet soda or more than 85 individual with PKU who need to avoid or restrict and as a general-purpose sweetener in packets of aspartame every day over their intake of phenylalanine. 1996. Leading global health authorities the course of their lifetime. In people Foods and beverages sweetened such as the European Food Safety who report consuming aspartame, with aspartame can add sweetness Authority (EFSA) and the Joint FAO/ the estimated average intake is 4.9 without contributing to increased WHO Expert Committee on Food mg/kg per day, which is less than 10 calorie intake, added sugars intake or Additives (JECFA) conduct scientific percent of the FDA’s ADI.4 For those risk of dental caries. With a focus on risk assessments and safety evaluations in the 95th percentile of aspartame reducing consumption of added sugars of food additives and have concluded consumption, intake is estimated at 13.3 in recent decades, the prevalence that aspartame is safe for its intended mg/kg per day—still far below the FDA of daily consumption of low-calorie uses.2,3 Based on these conclusions and ADI. Globally, aspartame intake also sweeteners among children and adults 8 other independent reviews, government remains well below the FDA and EFSA has increased since 2000. Just like regulators around the world, including ADIs. A 2018 study noted that only in intake among adults, absolute amounts of low-calorie sweeteners consumed by Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labor, and rare instances did individuals exceed children is considered to be well within Welfare; Food Standards Australia more than 20 percent of the ADI, even acceptable levels. New Zealand; Health Canada; and the in the highest-consuming groups.5 The American Heart Association U.S. FDA permit the use of aspartame. For more on how ADIs are set, see the (AHA) advises against children The FDA has established an “What is an ADI?” sidebar. regularly consuming beverages acceptable daily intake (ADI) for Although the safety of aspartame is containing low-calorie sweeteners, aspartame of 50 milligrams per established for intakes not exceeding instead recommending water and other kilogram of body weight (mg/kg) per the ADI, aspartame intake should be unsweetened beverages such as plain day. The EFSA has established a slightly limited by people with phenylketonuria milk.9 One notable exception in the lower ADI of 40 mg/kg per day. The ADI (PKU). PKU is a rare genetic disease 2018 AHA science advisory is made for represents an amount 100 times less that makes an affected person unable children with diabetes, whose blood than the quantity of aspartame found to properly metabolize phenylalanine, glucose management may benefit to achieve a no-observed-adverse- one of the amino acids found in by consuming low-calorie-sweetened beverages in place of sugar-sweetened WHAT IS AN ADI? varieties. Citing an absence of data, the 2019 policy statement from the The acceptable daily intake, or ADI, is the average daily intake over a lifetime that American Academy of Pediatrics does is expected to be safe for human consumption based on significant research.6 It not provide advice on children under is derived by determining the no-observed-adverse-effect-level, or NOAEL, which two years of age consuming foods is the highest intake level found to have no adverse effects in lifetime studies in or beverages that contain low-calorie animal models, divided by 100.7 Setting the ADI 100 times lower than the upper sweeteners.10 level found to have no adverse effects in research studies helps ensure that human intakes will be safe. 3 ASPARTAME CAN PREGNANT AND BREASTFEEDING WOMEN CONSUME ASPARTAME? YES. The consumption of low-calorie sweeteners, including aspartame, within the ADI is safe for women who are pregnant or breastfeeding, according to the EFSA, FDA and JECFA. Research has shown that aspartame has no adverse effects on expecting or nursing mothers or on the fetus. Aspartame is rapidly metabolized to the amino acids phenylalanine and aspartic acid and a small amount of methanol following ingestion, so it is not present in breast milk.11,12 All women who are pregnant or nursing need the necessary nutrients and calories for their baby’s optimal growth and development, while taking care not to exceed their needs. with a placebo.16 Recent consensus sweeteners (containing few or no statements by experts in nutrition, calories) may be an acceptable substitute CAN PEOPLE WITH medicine, physical activity and public for nutritive sweeteners (those containing DIABETES CONSUME health cite the neutral effects of low- calories, such as sugar, honey, and agave ASPARTAME? calorie sweeteners on hemoglobin A1C, syrup) when consumed in moderation. YES. Foods and beverages insulin and fasting and post-prandial While use of nonnutritive sweeteners made with aspartame are frequently glucose when concluding that the use does not appear to have a significant recommended to people with diabetes of low-calorie sweeteners in diabetes effect on glycemic management, as an alternative to sugar-sweetened management may contribute to better they can reduce overall calorie and foods and beverages and as a way glycemic control.17-19 carbohydrate intake.”20 Similar statements to help them satisfy their desire for Global health professional addressing the safety and potential sweet taste. Extensive research shows organizations have published their own use of low-calorie sweeteners such as that aspartame does not raise blood conclusions on the safety and role of aspartame for people with diabetes glucose levels or otherwise affect blood low-calorie sweeteners for people with are supported by Diabetes UK and glucose management in humans.13-15 diabetes. The 2020 American Diabetes Diabetes Canada.21,22 In a 2018 randomized controlled trial, Association Standards of Medical Care Despite these conclusions, aspartame ingestion had no effect on in Diabetes state that “For some people some studies have periodically blood glucose or insulin levels over with diabetes who are accustomed to raised questions about aspartame the 12-week intervention as compared sugar-sweetened products, nonnutritive and blood glucose management. A few observational studies have demonstrated an association between low-calorie sweetener consumption and risk for type 2 diabetes23-25 but are not able to directly link cause and effect, and as with the studies on body weight and obesity, they are at risk of confounding and reverse causality. For instance, many studies do not adjust for obesity status, a direct contributor to developing prediabetes and type 2 diabetes. Given that overweight and obese individuals tend to consume more low-calorie-sweetened beverages as compared with lean individuals,26 this is a critical omission.
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