EFSA Oks Sweetener Advantame

PARMA, ItalyThe European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) announced that the aspartame-derived sweetener, advantame, is safe for human consumption.

The EFSA Panel on Food Additives and Nutrient Sources added to Food (ANS) released a scientific opinion, published in the EFSA Journal, that found advantame and its metabolites pose no safety concern for consumers at use levels as a sweetener. The artificial sweetener is about 37,000 times sweeter than sucrose and stable under normal storage conditions, however there is some instability in acidic beverages and heat-treated foods.

The sweetener was tested in mice, rats, rabbits, dogs and humans, and was found to be poorly absorbed by the body. Therefore, it was concluded that the ingredients is not of concern in terms of genotoxicity and carcinogenicity. Gastrointestinal disturbance was observed in a prenatal study in rabbits and the no observed adverse effect level (NOAEL) for this effect was 500 mg of advantame per kilogram of body weight per day. The panel then built a 100-fold uncertainty factor when determining consumption levels for humans and established an acceptable daily intake (ADI) of 5 mg per kilogram of bodyweight per day.

The sweetener can be used to enhance flavor in dairy, fruit, citrus, mint and more. It can be used to extend sweetness in chewing gum and improve the sweetness profile of many confections as well. The EFSA also recently approved a health claim for prunes.