Originally published July 27 2005
European Safety Authority delves into health dangers of aspartame
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
Amid dispute over the results of aspartame's effects on female lab animals at doses " very close to the acceptable daily intake for humans," The Guardian reports that the European Safety Authority is investigating the results as a matter of high priority.
The European Food Safety Authority is reviewing "as a matter of high priority" the results of a large new study into aspartame, the artificial sweetener consumed by millions of people worldwide and used in more than 6,000 food and drink products.
Researchers at the Ramazzini Institute for cancer research in Italy say their study shows that aspartame causes lymphomas and leukaemia in female laboratory animals "at doses very close to the acceptable daily intake for humans".
The authors of the study also say that while rats fed aspartame ate less food, there was no difference in body weight between treated and untreated animals.
Article continues One of the largest manufacturers of aspartame, the Japanese multinational Ajinomoto said the allegations made by the Italian study were "not consistent with the extensive body of scientific research which already exists on aspartame".
EFSA confirmed yesterday that it would be asking its expert scientific panel on food additives to review the results "as a matter of high priority, in the context of the previous extensive safety data available on aspartame".
EFSA added that until that review had taken place it did not have a basis for recommending that consumers change their diet in respect of aspartame.
Aspartame is widely used to sweeten chewing gum, soft drinks, yoghurts and desserts and other low-calorie foods, and medicines including syrups and antibiotics for children.
Aspartame has been authorised for use in foods for a long time in many countries but has "a controversial history", according to EFSA.
Since its approval, the safety of aspartame and its breakdown products has been widely discussed in the press and among scientists.
Six different dose levels were tested against a control group.
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