Édulcorants intenses : point d'actualité sur leur sécurité d'emploi et les dernières innovations

Before authorisation a risk assessment is performed on all new sweeteners. In the European Union, it is EFSA which is in charge of these risk assessments as well as assessment of all new data which can induce a reevaluation. Recently, EFSA assessed several studies on potential adverse effects of aspartame. EFSA considered that these studies were not relevant due to the protocols used and confirmed that aspartame is safe for children as well as for adults and pregnant women. A new natural sweetener has been recently assessed by EFSA, steviol extracts obtained from Stevia, a plant from Uruguay. Toxicological studies showed that no adverse effects can be induced by these extracts as well as on genotoxicity, cancerogenicity, long term exposure, fertility and development. EFSA allocated an ADI of 4 mg/kg bw/day to steviol glycosides.