A May 25, 2006 article by John Johnston of the Boca Raton News quotes ACSH's Dr. Ruth Kava:
A scientific review of the latest study of aspartame's safety in rats has concluded that the sweetener is safe for human consumption.
"Once again," said Dr. Ruth Kava.
Kava, Director of Nutrition for the American Council on Science and Health (ACSH), said that in 2005, the European Ramazzini Foundation in Italy reported that aspartame at relatively low doses caused a variety of cancers in rats...
"Although charges that aspartame causes a wide variety of human illnesses abound on the Internet, this review should go far to undermine them," Kava said. "Aspartame and other such sweeteners provide a means for people to get the sweet tastes in beverages and foods that they enjoy without consuming excessive calories. And in our obesity-troubled society, that's a valuable asset."
See also: ACSH's report, Sugar Substitutes and Your Health.