AdditivesE951 - Aspartame
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E951 - Aspartame
Open Food Facts additive identifier: en:e951
Sweetener
Vegan
Yes
Vegetarian
Yes
Risk Level
No
Description
Aspartame (E951) is a low-calorie artificial sweetener composed of two amino acids.
It is used as a sugar substitute in thousands of "sugar-free" or "diet" products, such as carbonated soft drinks, chewing gum, yogurts, and tabletop sweeteners, to provide sweetness without the calories of sugar.
Despite being one of the most rigorously tested food additives, its safety remains controversial. While major regulatory bodies like the FDA and EFSA deem it safe for the general public, the IARC has classified it as "possibly carcinogenic to humans" (Group 2B). It must also be avoided by individuals with the genetic condition phenylketonuria (PKU).
Sources
EFSA Evaluation
Scientific Opinion on the re-evaluation of aspartame -E 951- as a food additive.
Open EFSA source