EU food safety body sees no new health risk from aspartame

Acg67
Acg67 Posts: 12,142 Member
edited February 8 in Food and Nutrition
Shocking

http://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/press/news/131210.htm

http://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/efsajournal/pub/3496.htm
“This opinion represents one of the most comprehensive risk assessments of aspartame ever undertaken. It’s a step forward in strengthening consumer confidence in the scientific underpinning of the EU food safety system and the regulation of food additives”, said the Chair of EFSA’s Panel on Food Additives and Nutrient Sources Added to Foods (ANS Panel), Dr Alicja Mortensen.

Experts of ANS Panel have considered all available information and, following a detailed analysis, have concluded that the current Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI) of 40mg/kg bw/day is protective for the general population. However, in patients suffering from the medical condition phenylketonuria (PKU), the ADI is not applicable, as they require strict adherence to a diet low in phenylalanine (an amino acid found in proteins).

Following a thorough review of evidence provided both by animal and human studies, experts have ruled out a potential risk of aspartame causing damage to genes and inducing cancer. EFSA’s experts also concluded that aspartame does not harm the brain, the nervous system or affect behaviour or cognitive function in children or adults. With respect to pregnancy, the Panel noted that there was no risk to the developing fetus from exposure to phenylalanine derived from aspartame at the current ADI (with the exception of women suffering from PKU).

The opinion makes clear that the breakdown products of aspartame (phenylalanine, methanol and aspartic acid) are also naturally present in other foods (for instance, methanol is found in fruit and vegetables). The contribution of breakdown products of aspartame to the overall dietary exposure to these substances is low.
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Replies

  • Hendrix7
    Hendrix7 Posts: 1,903 Member
    Experts of ANS Panel have considered all available information and, following a detailed analysis, have concluded that the current Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI) of 40mg/kg bw/day is protective for the general population.

    So thats about 17 330ml cans per day for an 80kg person...I think I'm ok then.
  • LolBroScience
    LolBroScience Posts: 4,537 Member
    Nice find :)
  • bagge72
    bagge72 Posts: 1,377 Member
    Unfortunately science wont trump the great aspartame myth for some people.
  • BenjaminMFP88
    BenjaminMFP88 Posts: 660 Member
    Good find. I never cared/believed the Aspartame supposed "health risks".
  • FredDoyle
    FredDoyle Posts: 2,272 Member
    You'll never sway the magical thinkers and true believers.
  • SideSteel
    SideSteel Posts: 11,068 Member
    To directly quote Wonderpug from bb.com:

    "Unfortunately, research-based refutation of fear mongering tends to be ineffective as those who are most prone to succumbing to such in the first place are also the least likely to apply critical thinking."
  • magerum
    magerum Posts: 12,589 Member
    To directly quote Wonderpug from bb.com:

    "Unfortunately, research-based refutation of fear mongering tends to be ineffective as those who are most prone to succumbing to such in the first place are also the least likely to apply critical thinking."


    Perfect.
  • ryry_
    ryry_ Posts: 4,966 Member
    To directly quote Wonderpug from bb.com:

    "Unfortunately, research-based refutation of fear mongering tends to be ineffective as those who are most prone to succumbing to such in the first place are also the least likely to apply critical thinking."

    I don't understand
  • CyberEd312
    CyberEd312 Posts: 3,536 Member
    To directly quote Wonderpug from bb.com:

    "Unfortunately, research-based refutation of fear mongering tends to be ineffective as those who are most prone to succumbing to such in the first place are also the least likely to apply critical thinking."

    Love it.....
  • wheird
    wheird Posts: 7,963 Member
    Nice!
  • PikaKnight
    PikaKnight Posts: 34,971 Member
    Tagging for my feed and definitely bookmarking!
  • nomeejerome
    nomeejerome Posts: 2,616 Member
    :bigsmile:
  • LiftAllThePizzas
    LiftAllThePizzas Posts: 17,857 Member
    To directly quote Wonderpug from bb.com:

    "Unfortunately, research-based refutation of fear mongering tends to be ineffective as those who are most prone to succumbing to such in the first place are also the least likely to apply critical thinking."
    Fear + repetition = truth.
  • bagge72
    bagge72 Posts: 1,377 Member
    See what I get for posting on this post hahah. I left the name out of the message, but I bet you can guess who sent it.


    Hi

    We have formed a group, the Skinny on Obesity, to help educate and spread the word of Dr. Lustig on the dangers of sugar and artificial ingredients and the MAJOR role they play in gaining, losing and maintaining weight. We are trying to help everyone; knowledge is power!

    If you are getting stuck with your weight loss, you may want to read about sugar!

    All you have to do is click on community, see the group and join. It's easy!



    Cheers!
    The Skinny on Obesity Group
  • LiftAllThePizzas
    LiftAllThePizzas Posts: 17,857 Member
    See what I get for posting on this post hahah. I left the name out of the message, but I bet you can guess who sent it.


    Hi

    We have formed a group, the Skinny on Obesity, to help educate and spread the word of Dr. Lustig on the dangers of sugar and artificial ingredients and the MAJOR role they play in gaining, losing and maintaining weight. We are trying to help everyone; knowledge is power!

    If you are getting stuck with your weight loss, you may want to read about sugar!

    All you have to do is click on community, see the group and join. It's easy!



    Cheers!
    The Skinny on Obesity Group
    I don't know, but I suddenly have a compulsion to buy some kettlebells so that I can log burns of more calories an hour than it is physiologically possible for my body to burn.
  • MinimalistShoeAddict
    MinimalistShoeAddict Posts: 1,946 Member
    Shocking

    http://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/press/news/131210.htm

    http://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/efsajournal/pub/3496.htm
    “This opinion represents one of the most comprehensive risk assessments of aspartame ever undertaken. It’s a step forward in strengthening consumer confidence in the scientific underpinning of the EU food safety system and the regulation of food additives”, said the Chair of EFSA’s Panel on Food Additives and Nutrient Sources Added to Foods (ANS Panel), Dr Alicja Mortensen.

    Experts of ANS Panel have considered all available information and, following a detailed analysis, have concluded that the current Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI) of 40mg/kg bw/day is protective for the general population. However, in patients suffering from the medical condition phenylketonuria (PKU), the ADI is not applicable, as they require strict adherence to a diet low in phenylalanine (an amino acid found in proteins).

    Following a thorough review of evidence provided both by animal and human studies, experts have ruled out a potential risk of aspartame causing damage to genes and inducing cancer. EFSA’s experts also concluded that aspartame does not harm the brain, the nervous system or affect behaviour or cognitive function in children or adults. With respect to pregnancy, the Panel noted that there was no risk to the developing fetus from exposure to phenylalanine derived from aspartame at the current ADI (with the exception of women suffering from PKU).

    The opinion makes clear that the breakdown products of aspartame (phenylalanine, methanol and aspartic acid) are also naturally present in other foods (for instance, methanol is found in fruit and vegetables). The contribution of breakdown products of aspartame to the overall dietary exposure to these substances is low.

    Great post! I hope some of the New Year's Resolution types see this. For the record, I have no problem with regular soda but love diet soda (for the caffeine) so that I can use the saved calories on more pizza, broccoli. strawberries and ice cream!

    Once again this research proves that unless you have phenylketonuria, aspartame is very safe even at high levels of consumption (Acceptable Daily Intake of 40mg/kg bw/day) which most of us will never approach.
  • tempehforever
    tempehforever Posts: 183 Member
    Come on you guys, don't you know the scientists are in on it? Everyone knows science is just a conspiracy that you shouldn't trust.






    (...joke.)
  • waldo56
    waldo56 Posts: 1,861 Member
    Aspartame is without a doubt the most studied substance as it relates to human health and nutrition, by far the most proven to be safe substance on the planet.

    Yet the myths persist. The myths easily appeal to apparent common sense (aspartame is artificial, fake, and processed chemicals, which can in no way be good for you). No amount of evidence can possibly overcome this, especially given the extreme technophobia currently consuming mainstream fad nutrition (its not the fats, cholesterol, or carbs of yore that are bad for you nowadays, nowadays processing and chemicals are bad for you).
  • _John_
    _John_ Posts: 8,646 Member
    aspartame helps me meet my protein macro every day...
  • _John_
    _John_ Posts: 8,646 Member
    nm
  • Mia_RagazzaTosta
    Mia_RagazzaTosta Posts: 4,885 Member
    See what I get for posting on this post hahah. I left the name out of the message, but I bet you can guess who sent it.


    Hi

    We have formed a group, the Skinny on Obesity, to help educate and spread the word of Dr. Lustig on the dangers of sugar and artificial ingredients and the MAJOR role they play in gaining, losing and maintaining weight. We are trying to help everyone; knowledge is power!

    If you are getting stuck with your weight loss, you may want to read about sugar!

    All you have to do is click on community, see the group and join. It's easy!



    Cheers!
    The Skinny on Obesity Group

    Let me guess...said person has a sideways picture
  • randomtai
    randomtai Posts: 9,003 Member
    To directly quote Wonderpug from bb.com:

    "Unfortunately, research-based refutation of fear mongering tends to be ineffective as those who are most prone to succumbing to such in the first place are also the least likely to apply critical thinking."

    This is the best quote ever! Should be on the MFP main page :laugh:
  • rml_16
    rml_16 Posts: 16,414 Member
    Unfortunately science wont trump the great aspartame myth for some people.

    These are the same people who think anything out of the US is a conspiracy and anything out of the EU is gospel, so it might make a difference since it's coming from outside the US. I mean, we all know the CDC and FDA are out to kill us.
  • DeadliftAddict
    DeadliftAddict Posts: 746 Member
    Good article. I still can't use the stuff much. Makes me piss like a russian race horse headed to a glue factory!
  • Lleldiranne
    Lleldiranne Posts: 5,516 Member
    I'm just tagging to see what comes up from this. Should be amusing!

    (And I love my diet coke, so I'm on the 'of course' side of it)
  • nehushtan
    nehushtan Posts: 566 Member
    "Unfortunately, research-based refutation of fear mongering tends to be ineffective as those who are most prone to succumbing to such in the first place are also the least likely to apply critical thinking."

    Ha!

    Reminds me of something similar about why there are so many "lottery winner" horror stories -- most jackpot winners prove to be poor money managers... which is the reason they were playing the game to begin with!
  • delicious_cocktail
    delicious_cocktail Posts: 5,797 Member
    u guys are all laughs now but this research is buiased and only tells one half of th story.

    everyone knows the eu is in the back pocket of the sugar industry. it's un evertthing over their, there addicts.

    this is PROVEN science from unbias sources

    http://isotropic.org/papers/chicken.pdf
    http://www.dhmo.org/facts.html
    http://www.doctoroz.com/hardcore/creampie.htm
  • The_Enginerd
    The_Enginerd Posts: 3,982 Member
    To directly quote Wonderpug from bb.com:

    "Unfortunately, research-based refutation of fear mongering tends to be ineffective as those who are most prone to succumbing to such in the first place are also the least likely to apply critical thinking."
    This is the funny thing about people (no, I'm sorry, not funny, sad is the word).

    Th osewith these beliefs tend to become more deeply entrenched in their beliefs when faced with facts and research and believe it just proves the conspiracy.
  • Francl27
    Francl27 Posts: 26,368 Member
    Still tastes awful.
  • rml_16
    rml_16 Posts: 16,414 Member
    Still tastes awful.
    Agreed. I avoid it because sugar just tastes better.
This discussion has been closed.

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