Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 March 2012
610 Deputy Mary Mitchell O’Connor asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to research conducted on the possible carcinogenic properties of the sugar substitute aspartame; if he has done any research on aspartame; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16667/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) have advised that the safety of aspartame, including the consideration of potential carcinogenicity, has been comprehensively evaluated by international scientific experts including the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), the EU Scientific Committee on Food (SCF), the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives and the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA). These expert committees consider that aspartame is safe for use and have established an acceptable daily intake (ADI) for aspartame of 40-50 milligrams per kilogram of body weight per day. Furthermore, the FSAI review all information on approved food additives such as aspartame on an ongoing basis. Based on current information available the FSAI consider that aspartame is safe for use.
Following some recent concerns regarding the safety of aspartame raised by several members of the European Parliament and the publication of several new studies on aspartame, EFSA will bring forward a full re-evaluation of aspartame by the end of 2012 to further determine its safety.
