EFSA to issue statement on two studies on safety of artificial sweeteners

One of the studies published was conducted by the Ramazzini Institute and focuses on the potential carcinogenicity Cancer-causing property of a substance when an animal or human is exposed to it. of aspartame in mice (Soffritti et al., 2010[2]). The other is an epidemiological study that examines the association between the consumption of sugar-sweetened and artificially-sweetened soft drinks and the risk of preterm delivery in Danish pregnant women (Halldorsson et al., 2010[3]).

At their plenary meeting on 1 – 3 February 2011, EFSA scientists on the ANS Panel had an initial discussion on these recent publications and highlighted further scientific work which could be considered. The Panel noted that the type and incidence The number of new events occurring within a specified time period within a defined geographical area; for example, the number of flu cases per year in Europe. of tumours reported by Soffriti et al (2010) appear spontaneously at high rates in male mice. The Panel also observed that the increased incidence of these tumours in mice exposed to aspartame through feed, whilst statistically significant, remained within the historical control range for these tumours in these mice[4]. EFSA will support the Panel in further analysing the results and conclusions in the Ramazzini paper and will request the complete data set from the authors for possible review.

The ANS Panel also considered the Danish epidemiological study whose findings suggest that the daily intake The amount of a substance (e.g. nutrient or chemical) that is ingested by a person or animal via the diet. of artificially sweetened soft drinks may be associated with an increased risk of preterm delivery. These findings are based on a statistical association between the consumption of artificially sweetened soft drinks and preterm delivery observed in a prospective cohort study[5]. This epidemiological study cannot, in and of itself, establish a cause and effect relationship between the intake of artificial sweeteners and risk of preterm delivery. As indicated by the authors, further research (including experimental studies) would be required to confirm or reject these findings. The Panel advised on the need for specialised expertise to provide additional insights on the methodology and statistical aspects of this study, including the implications of possible confounding factors.

EFSA will provide a scientific statement on the two papers by the end of February 2011, responding to a request for technical assistance from the European Commission.

•   Statement on two recent scientific articles on the safety of artificial sweeteners