We have all heard that Aspartame could be harmful to our health, but according to European health officials, it might not be so bad after all. Aspartame is an artificial sweetener used in many diet sodas, candies and sweet treats.

Previous studies have linked Aspartame to certain health problems, including cancer, stomach ulcers and premature births. As a result, diet soda sales have dropped significantly.

The European Food Safety Authority recently did some tests of their own and what they found contradicts the results of previous studies. According to the EFSA, Aspartame is safe to consume in moderate amounts.

The safe amount recommended by the EFSA is 40milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg) of body weight. Most people would have a hard time consuming this amount in one day, so most people are not at risk for Aspartame poisoning or other health problems associated with the sweetener.

Alicja Mortensen,chairwoman of EFSA’s Panel on Food Additives and NutrientSources Added to Foods (ANS Panel) said, “It’s a step forward in strengthening consumer confidence in the scientific underpinning of the EU food safety system and the regulation of food additives.”

Whether or not this new study will increase the usage of Aspartame and sales of products that contain it is yet to be determined. People who prefer diet sodas or want to add sweeteners to foods such as cereals and baked goods, without adding extra calories, may find relief in these new results.

Image from Wikimedia Commons.