Is aspartame safe?

The FDA and almost all scientists who are familiar with the data collected on aspartame safety conclude that aspartame, and its use in a wide variety of products, is a safe and useful option for those individuals who prefer a low-calorie sweetener. In fact, the FDA Commissioner noted upon approval that "few compounds have withstood such detailed testing and repeated, close scrutiny, and the process through which aspartame has gone should provide the public with additional confidence of its safety."

In addition to the rigorous review by the FDA, the full body of research on aspartame has been evaluated by numerous governmental and medical authorities including: American Medical Association Council on Scientific Affairs, American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Nutrition, American Diabetes Association, American Dietetic Association, American Cancer Society, American Dental Association, American Council on Science and Health, The Epilepsy Institute, Joint Expert Committee of Food Additives of the World Health Organization and the Scientific Committee for Food of the European Union.

Some critics claim that aspartame’s breakdown components (aspartic acid, phenylalanine, methanol) could have harmful effects. However, those claims are unfounded. Aspartic acid and phenylalanine are building blocks of protein that are found in all protein-containing foods. Methanol is found naturally in the body and in many foods such as fruit and vegetable juices. The FDA reviewed animal, clinical and consumption studies submitted by the sweetener’s manufacturer, as well as the existing body of scientific data, and "concluded that the studies demonstrated the safety of these components."