Science-backed low/no calorie sweeteners offer a safe way to enjoy sweetness while cutting sugar. With rising rates of obesity and non-communicable diseases, they can support healthier diets
Low/no calorie sweeteners provide sweet taste with minimal or no calories. They are used in foods and beverages to help reduce their sugar content. Supported by decades of scientific research and safety evaluations, low/no calorie sweeteners can be a practical tool for managing weight, assisting with glycemic control, and supporting oral health as part of a balanced diet.
Low/no calorie sweeteners are among the most thoroughly researched ingredients, with their safety confirmed by global food safety authorities like the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the Joint Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) of FAO/WHO. Extensive studies demonstrate that consumption of approved sweeteners is safe for all population groups.
Sweetness is an integral part of the human diet and our appetite for sweet taste is innate. When health organisations worldwide recommend that free sugars intake should be reduced, managing dietary sweetness, including with the support of low/no calorie sweeteners, is critical from a nutritional and a public health perspective.
Posted : 30 April 2025
The European Food Safety Authority reconfirms acesulfame K’s safety after conducting a thorough, comprehensive and scientifically rigorous review. These conclusions are consistent with a history of safe use, confirmed by global and national food safety agencies, for more than thirty years. Brussels, 30th April 2025: The International Sweeteners Association (ISA) welcomes the European Food Safety […]
Posted : 28 April 2025
Since the beginning of 2025, several state level bills in the USA have been proposed targeting different food additives, including low/no calorie sweeteners (LNCS) and often based on misinformation on their approval status in certain countries or misinterpretation of scientific evidence. The International Sweeteners Association (ISA) would like to remind that LNCS are amongst the […]
Posted : 9 April 2025
Brussels, 9th April 2025: In light of new observational research on food additive mixtures and risk of T2 diabetes, the International Sweeteners Association (ISA) highlights existing evidence indicating that consuming low/no calorie sweeteners does not affect glucose control or increase the risk of type 2 diabetes. The present analysis of the NutriNet-Santé cohort data does […]
Posted : 2 April 2025
Brussels, 2nd April 2025: Responding to the UK Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN) statement on the WHO guideline on non-sugar sweeteners, the International Sweeteners Association (ISA) reconfirms low/no calorie sweeteners’ (LNCS) role in helping address the global obesity crisis. While reviewing the WHO guideline on LNCS, SACN pointed to differences in the WHO methods […]
Posted : 28 March 2025
Brussels, 28th March 2025: Contrary to what suggested by a new study from the University of Southern California, it is important to highlight that sucralose does not affect appetite. The study by Chakravartti et al. does not provide evidence that sucralose disrupts appetite regulation or increases energy or food intake. In fact, the study results […]
Posted : 20 February 2025
Brussels, 20th February 2025: Contrary to what is reported in the animal study by Wu and colleagues, the International Sweeteners Association (ISA) points to the available scientific evidence showing that aspartame does not affect heart health. Human clinical studies consistently confirm no adverse impact of aspartame on glucose control, blood lipids, blood pressure, or other […]
An interview with Stephen Fleming, PhD, Traverse Science An unhealthy diet high in free sugars is commonly recognised as a risk factor for dental caries which has led to increased interest on the role of low/no calorie sweeteners in oral health. Sweeteners like aspartame, sucralose and stevia do not affect our teeth in the […]
An interview with Professor Katherine Appleton and Dr Lucy Boxall, Bournemouth University, UK Dietary recommendations around the world consistently call for a reduction in high free sugars intake. However, effective strategies to achieve such a dietary change are yet to be defined. With this scope, a newly published randomised controlled trial evaluated the effectiveness […]
Looking back at new research on low/no calorie sweeteners and scientific milestones of 2024 Highlights: The beneficial role of low/no calorie sweetened beverages in weight control of children and adults has been clarified in new research A comprehensive review of the literature rejected the widespread assumption that exposure to sweet taste drives a “sweet […]
Science news from the 41st International Symposium on Diabetes and Nutrition, the 31st European Congress on Obesity, and the ISA-FINUT webinar Highlights: Data analysis of observational studies using advanced methodologies to reduce bias rejects the notion that sweeteners’ intake is associated with weight gain Prospective cohort studies with substitution analysis report a reduced obesity […]
The “sweet tooth” hypothesis examined and rejected in a new review study Highlights: Evidence from human studies does not provide support to the widespread assumption that sweetness exposure drives a “sweet tooth”, a review of multiple studies shows After consuming a sweet-tasting food or drink, the desire for sweetness and consumption of the same […]
Highlights include recommendations, new research and scientific events Highlights: European and American clinical practice guidelines published in 2023 support the use of low/no calorie sweeteners in place of sugars, contrary to what WHO suggests in a conditional recommendation New long-term clinical studies indicate benefits of low/no calorie sweeteners in weight loss and maintenance The […]
An interview with Stephen Fleming, PhD, Traverse Science An unhealthy diet high in free sugars is commonly recognised as a risk factor for dental caries which has led to increased interest on the role of low/no calorie sweeteners in oral health. Sweeteners like aspartame, sucralose and stevia do not affect our teeth in the […]
An interview with Professor Katherine Appleton and Dr Lucy Boxall, Bournemouth University, UK Dietary recommendations around the world consistently call for a reduction in high free sugars intake. However, effective strategies to achieve such a dietary change are yet to be defined. With this scope, a newly published randomised controlled trial evaluated the effectiveness […]
Looking back at new research on low/no calorie sweeteners and scientific milestones of 2024 Highlights: The beneficial role of low/no calorie sweetened beverages in weight control of children and adults has been clarified in new research A comprehensive review of the literature rejected the widespread assumption that exposure to sweet taste drives a “sweet […]
Science news from the 41st International Symposium on Diabetes and Nutrition, the 31st European Congress on Obesity, and the ISA-FINUT webinar Highlights: Data analysis of observational studies using advanced methodologies to reduce bias rejects the notion that sweeteners’ intake is associated with weight gain Prospective cohort studies with substitution analysis report a reduced obesity […]
The “sweet tooth” hypothesis examined and rejected in a new review study Highlights: Evidence from human studies does not provide support to the widespread assumption that sweetness exposure drives a “sweet tooth”, a review of multiple studies shows After consuming a sweet-tasting food or drink, the desire for sweetness and consumption of the same […]
Highlights include recommendations, new research and scientific events Highlights: European and American clinical practice guidelines published in 2023 support the use of low/no calorie sweeteners in place of sugars, contrary to what WHO suggests in a conditional recommendation New long-term clinical studies indicate benefits of low/no calorie sweeteners in weight loss and maintenance The […]
Explore evidence-based information on the safety and benefits of low/no calorie sweeteners.
The International Sweeteners Association (ISA) is an international non-profit organisation with scientific aims representing suppliers and users of low/no calorie sweeteners. The ISA informs and educates on the most up-to-date nutritional and scientific information in relation to the role and benefits of low/no calorie sweeteners, and the foods and beverages that contain them.
