Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what research and discussions his Department has had with the food industry and relevant professional bodies over the safety of aspartame and other artificial sweeteners.

We are advised by the Food Standards Agency (FSA) that all food additives, including sweeteners, are only permitted after a robust evaluation of their safety. The foods in which the sweeteners can be used and their conditions of use are regulated under harmonised European Union legislation on food additives.

The results of an FSA funded study on aspartame were published in March 2015. The study was designed to examine whether self-diagnosed individuals exhibit any reactions which can be observed in a clinical setting, after consuming bars that do or do not contain aspartame. Participants showed no difference in their response whether they contained aspartame or not.

As part of its systematic re-evaluation of all food additives, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) re-evaluated the safety of aspartame and concluded in December 2013 that 'aspartame and its breakdown products are safe for human consumption at current levels of exposure'. In undertaking their re-evaluation EFSA had access to all available, relevant scientific studies and data on aspartame.

Officials in the FSA have regular discussions with industry, and other interested parties, on a range of issues. Since EFSA reaffirmed the safety on the current use of aspartame, these have not routinely included discussions on aspartame or other sweeteners.