Risk assessments of aspartame, acesulfame K, sucralose and benzoic acid from soft drinks, “saft”, nectar and flavoured water. Opinion of the Panel on Food Additives, Flavourings, Processing Aids, Materials in Contact with Food and Cosmetics of the Norwegian Scientific Committee for Food Safety

Abstract

The Norwegian Scientific Committee for Food Safety (Vitenskapskomiteen for mattrygghet, VKM), Panel on Food Additives, Flavourings, Processing Aids, Materials in Contact with Food and Cosmetics, has at the request of the Norwegian Food Safety Authority (Mattilsynet) conducted a risk assessment of the intense sweeteners aspartame, acesulfame K and sucralose and the preservative benzoic acid from soft drinks, “saft”, nectar and flavoured water. The risk assessment includes exposure assessments and the calculated exposures are compared to the acceptable daily intake (ADI) for the respective sweeteners and benzoic acid. VKM was also requested to compare the current calculated intake of aspartame, acesulfame K and benzoic acid to the calculated intake reported by VKM in 2007 (from the VKM report «Impact on health when sugar is replaced with intense sweeteners in soft drinks, «saft» and nectar») (VKM, 2007).