“Regular re-evaluation of food additives like acesulfame K is crucial to ensure consumer safety in light of updated exposure data and critical assessment of the scientific evidence,” says Ellen Bruzell, Senior Scientist at NIOM.
Ellen Bruzell is a member of the EFSA Working Group on Sweeteners under the Panel on Food Additives and Flavourings (FAF), which just has provided a new set of recommendations to the European Commission for consideration of revision of specifications of acesulfame K (E 950), a widely used artificial sweetener.
Acesulfame K is a calorie-free sweetener approximately 200 times sweeter than sugar. It's commonly found in products like soft drinks, desserts, and chewing gum. The last evaluation of acesulfame K was performed by EFSA’s predecessor, EU’s Scientific Committee on Food (SCF), in 2000. EFSA has now re-examined its safety based on additional scientific data.
Acesulfame K does not pose a safety concern at current exposure levels
EFSA's re-evaluation involved a thorough review of in vitro tests and toxicological studies in experimental animals and humans, including those on carcinogenicity, genotoxicity, and reproductive toxicity. The Panel also considered human exposure levels and the sweetener's metabolic fate.
The assessment concluded that acesulfame K does not pose a safety concern at current exposure levels. The Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI) of 15 mg/kg body weight per day replaced the ADI of 9 mg/kg body weight per day set by SCF in 2000. This means that the current use of acesulfame K in foods and beverages is considered safe for consumers.
Several other sweeteners are under assessment, and Ellen Bruzell will also take part in these assessments.