6 June 2025
On World Food Safety Day, celebrated each year on 7th June, the International Sweeteners Association (ISA) joins WHO and FAO in praising the vital role of science in ensuring that the foods we eat are safe.
Low/no calorie sweeteners (LNCS) are among the most thoroughly researched food ingredients in the world. Their safety has been consistently confirmed by leading regulatory authorities such as the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) and local authorities.
Why can we trust their safety?
- Every approved sweetener has undergone a rigorous safety assessment based on the latest scientific evidence. Only when there is strong evidence of no safety concern is the sweetener permitted for use.
- An Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI) is established for each sweetener, with large safety margins built in. An ADI is the amount of a low/no calorie sweetener, or other food ingredient, that can be consumed daily over a lifetime without appreciable risk to health.
- These evaluations cover all population groups, including children, pregnant women and people with specific medical conditions.
- Following their initial safety assessment and market approval, low/no calorie sweeteners continue to be closely reviewed by food safety authorities around the world.
Science in action
In a context where misinformation spreads rapidly, World Food Safety Day is a key opportunity to highlight that low/no calorie sweeteners’ safety is backed by robust and transparent science. As illustrated in the updated ISA infographic, Low/No Calorie Sweeteners: Safety and Regulation, population-level intake of approved sweeteners, including in Latin America, remains well below the established safety thresholds.
Furthermore, LNCS are a valuable tool for millions of people — including those living with diabetes, obesity and cardiovascular conditions — to reduce sugar intake without compromising on taste. They also support food and drink reformulation, helping to offer healthier product options in line with public health goals.
“Science has spoken: low/no calorie sweeteners are safe. We can trust them as a useful tool to support sugar reduction and public health without giving up the sweet taste we enjoy” – Laura Miranda, Regional Coordinator for Latin America at the International Sweeteners Association (ISA).
As detailed in our booklet and in our safety factsheet, these conclusions are thoroughly documented. We encourage healthcare professionals, nutritionists and the scientific community to engage with our resources to get the most up to date information on the science and safety of LNCS.
On this #WorldFoodSafetyDay, we celebrate science in action, the work of scientists and the contributions they make to food safety. Food safety is a collective responsibility, and based on the best available evidence, ISA reaffirms that low/no calorie sweeteners are a safe, practical and effective way to sweeten smarter.
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