EFSA Asks For Current Scientific Data For Safety Assessment Of Aspartame

To determine the safety of the sweetener aspartame, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) announced it is seeking all available scientific data available on its use as a food and drink additive and tabletop sweetener. Prompted by the European Commission, the agency will conduct a full re-evaluation of aspartame to be completed in 2012. The call for data extends to September 2011 “to ensure that EFSA’s risk assessment of the safety of aspartame will be the most thorough and up-to-date yet.”  The agency wants all available scientific and technical data, whether published, unpublished or newly generated, related to the use of aspartame, a low-calorie sweetener that is about 200 times sweeter than sugar.