Increase the acceptable daily intake of saccharin from 5 mg/kg to 9 mg/kg. Under the guidance of a scientific opinion recently issued by EFSA.
Following the publication of the study, Carla Saunders, Chair of the Calorie Control Council, said: “This rigorous assessment by EFSA confirms decades of research that has validated the safety of saccharin and recommends an increase in the ADI. This further confirms its status as a trusted ingredient.”
As one of the best-studied substances on the market, saccharin is a valuable tool that consumers can use to reduce their sugar and calorie intake.
Can I eat saccharin?
It has been criticized for many years and even linked to cancer.
In 1995, the previous ADI of 5 mg was set after increased rates of bladder tumors were observed in experiments on rats.
The study concluded that there was scientific agreement and evidence to support that tumors in rats were "not applicable to humans" and therefore not relevant.
Find out which sweeteners are under review.
EFSA's new ADI is the result of a thorough review of the available information. It concluded that saccharin "does not cause DNA damage" and that its consumption was unlikely to be linked to cancer.
The report confirms that consumer exposure to levels below the new ADI poses no health risk.
Saccharin and sugar substitutes continue to come under scrutiny, particularly because of the UPF lawsuit, but also because of a series of recent studies that claim artificial sweeteners may have harmful effects on heart health.
The impact of saccharin and other sweeteners on the heart
Most sweeteners, however, are used to reduce the sugar content of foods and beverages to make them “healthier” for heart, dental and general health.
The British Heart Foundation said further research was needed to better understand the link between artificial sweeteners and heart and circulatory disease. Tracy Parker, two years after the publication of a large-scale observational study.
The International Sweeteners Association argues that the sweetener is considered an effective and viable solution to the obesity epidemic.
EFSA's advice comes at a timely time as policymakers have urged food companies to reformulate their products to provide healthier alternatives, create healthier food environments and reduce risk factors for non-communicable diseases.
Manufacturers may continue to use this ingredient to provide food and beverage products with less sugar and calories.
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