Scientific Facts on the Aspertame artificial sweetener

The consumption of aspertame in Europe is estimated to be between 2.8 and 10.1 mg/kg body weight per day.

Aspertame is a non-caloric artificial sweetener used in many diet drinks and foods. Although this artificial sweetener has been widely used for many years, some allegations still fuel a debate on possible side effects.

Does aspertame really pose health risks?

4.1 Can the aspertame sweetener cause cancer or induce genetic damage?

1. In laboratory studies:
   • the aspertame sweetener did not induce genetic mutations.
   • A study on mice showed no cancer effects. A first study on rats fed with very high doses of the aspertame sweetener (1000 to 6000 mg/kg body weight per day) found a higher incidence of brain tumors. This study was contradicted by two subsequent ones. Therefore, it was concluded that the aspertame sweetener does not cause brain cancer in laboratory animals.
   • Diketopiperazine does not cause cancer or genetic mutation in rats or mice. Read the EC-SCF report about aspartame and cancer and genetic mutations...
2. In 1996, Olney published an article linking the consumption of the aspertame sweetener and the occurrence of brain tumors in the United States, which has been criticized by a number of scientists. Subsequent studies did not find such a link. In France, the sale of the aspertame sweetener did not increase the frequency of brain tumors. Read the EC-SCF report about aspartame and brain tumours...

Next question: Does aspertame provoque effects on reproduction and development?

Note that the proper spelling for Aspertame is Aspartame.