Even though its been decades since numerous international governmental health authorities approved the use of aspartame as a food additive, the European Commission is not satisfied with the abundance of studies on the matter and is asking the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) to conduct and expedite yet another re-evaluation of the artificial sweetener by July 2012.
Even though two studies earlier this year — an animal study on carcinogenicity and an epidemiological study on sweeteners and pre-term delivery — have not demonstrated any reason to re-evalute the safety of aspartame, Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) are still concerned over the alleged health effects associated with aspartame.
“All the science indicates that aspartame is safe, yet they’re still calling for another review — what a huge waste of time and money,” notes ACSH's Dr. Gilbert Ross. “This reminds me of the U.S. EPA’s decision last year to re-evaluate the herbicide Atrazine, even though it’s already been evaluated a hundred times or more. And much the same argument could be made for the FDA’s lack of closure on the proven safety of bisphenol A (BPA).”
ACSH's exasperated Dr. Elizabeth Whelan asks, “When will it end? What will these agencies finally consider to be definitive?”