Aspartame....good Or Bad?

[ToraToraTora]

I've seen several documentary type programs that basically tell us that Aspartame is terribly bad for us all. However it's hard to find anything sweet in the shops that doesn't have it in. Surely it would have been banned if it was that bad. Does anyone actually know about this? Can't see the wood for the trees googleing. thanks

[LazyGun]

All the best evidence suggests it is perfectly fine and dandy, unless you have a rare inherited disorder called PKU (PhenylKetonUria), which you will know about already if you suffer from it.

There are some people who have built up a whole edifice of conspiracy theorising alleging harms of aspartame and cover-ups by "big sweetener", but none seem substantive.

http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/aspartame-truth-vs-fiction/

The EFSA (European Food Safety Agency - I know,I know, its them pesky Euro types :) ) recently completed probably the most comprehensive review of all the quality evidence to date and concluded it was perfectly safe.

http://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/press/news/131210.htm

[Old_Jim]

There have been some reported ill effects from eating aspartame, but not nearly as many as those from eating sugar. As a general rule, it's worth avoiding artificial sweeteners, but if you're hooked on sweet food, aspartame is less fattening.

[ToraToraTora]

Thank you both, LG thanks for the links, I did suspect there was a bit of a sniff of the conspiracy theorists on this one!

[Prudie]

I remember something about this coming up before on AB and although it's OK in the UK I'm sure it has been banned (maybe in the past) in US and Canada or similar. I think I got in the neck for saying real sugar was better for you!

[sunny-dave]

The problem with Aspartame (regardless of any health issues) is that it actually makes you more thirsty.

That's why the soft drinks industry love it - you have a diet pepsicoke and then ... you want another.

I actively avoid all artificial sweeteners in food/drink - in moderation sugar is OK and it tastes better too.

[LazyGun]

@ Prudie "I'm sure it has been banned (maybe in the past) in US and Canada or similar."

As best I can tell, it has never been banned anywhere. There was quite a lot of sound and fury over aspartame in the USA in particular, and there were motions tabled in New Mexico and Hawaii to ban it, but neither ever came to anything.

And, given the latest evidence on the role of sugar within our diets and its links to obesity and diabetes II, I am not at all sure that sugar could be regarded as being better for you ;)

@sunny- dave. I can't say I personally have noticed that aspartame makes you thirstier, but as a general rule I do not find fizzy soda drinks particularly thirst-quenching anyway, largely because of the fizziness and because of the flavouring and syrups etc.

Rather than drinking diet versions of soda drinks, I drink the "zero" variety now, if I have a soft drink at all.

[Prudie]

Lazy, wiki (which I accept is not gospel) says "Initially aspartame was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1974, however, problems with Searle's safety testing program, including testing of aspartame, were discovered subsequently. The approval was rescinded the following year, but after outside reviews of the problematic tests and additional testing, final approval was granted in 1981."
To me that says it was not approved in US between 75 and 81, not an insignificant time. Having said that I may have been thinking Cyclamates.

[LazyGun]

If I understand the chronology correctly Prudie, Aspartame was originally approved for use in dry foods back in 1974. There was quite a high profile campaign and legal action challenging that approval, so the FDA approval was put on hold in 1975. At that point, Searle had not sold any Aspartame.

The legal argument and various internal reviews, challenges, correspondence and collecting additional safety evidence through further studies a public inquiry in 1980 etc took around 6 years, so Searle were not able to sell Aspartame until 1981.

http://www.gao.gov/assets/150/145477.pdf

Since then, there have been many more safety studies. Many more trials, and several comprehensive reviews of the evidence, all of which have found Aspartame to be perfectly safe.There have even been european conferences on aspartame, discussing its safety etc.

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0278691507000798

The most recent review was conducted by the EFSA, originally scheduled to report in 2020 I think, their report was brought forward for release in 2013. They have been able to review over 30 years worth of data, studies, reports, public enquiries, and concluded the Aspartame was safe.

With this level of scrutiny, with this many studies and reports,there are few food additives out there that could be considered safer :)

http://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/topics/topic/aspartame.htm

[Old_Geezer]

I have not the expertise to say but I avoid it; I suspect they don't state "Contains a source of phenylalanine" as marketing ploy.

[jno]

LG, Coke Zero has aspartame

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/11/diet-coke-vs-coca-cola-zero_n_1199008.html

[Bert]

'I have not the expertise to say but I avoid it; I suspect they don't state "Contains a source of phenylalanine" as marketing ploy.'
Quite right, OG. They say it for the benefit of people with PKU as previously mentioned. [It's also a legal requirement, and for the same reason.] About 1 in 10,000 people are born with PKU. So aspartame is perfectly OK for 9,999 people in 10,000.