EFSA reaffirms aspartame safety following scientific review of the salt of aspartame-acesulfame
Key takeaways Brussels, 10th September 2026: The International Sweeteners Association (ISA) welcomes EFSA’s scientific opinion, published today, which concludes that the salt of aspartame-acesulfame is safe (E 962) and reconfirms the safety of aspartame based on the latest available scientific evidence.1 The salt of aspartame-acesulfame is a low/no calorie sweetener containing ionically bound aspartame and […]
Low/no calorie sweeteners do not adversely affect the gut microbiota
Brussels, 17th July 2026: The International Sweeteners Association (ISA) welcomes new research that contributes to our understanding of the interactions between low/no calorie sweeteners and the gut microbiota. However, the new study by Blasche et al. should be regarded as a mechanistic screening study rather than evidence that low/no calorie sweeteners adversely affect the human […]
New review does not undermine the established evidence supporting low/no calorie sweeteners as sugar alternatives
Brussels, 08 July 2026: The International Sweeteners Association (ISA) notes the publication of a new narrative review with a meta-analysis by Wang et al. examining the effects of low/no calorie sweeteners (LNCS) on cardiometabolic health. These findings do not alter the overall evidence base supporting LNCS as alternatives to sugar and should be interpreted cautiously […]
Low/no calorie sweeteners: moving beyond “natural” vs “artificial”
Public discussions about food ingredients often frame low/no calorie sweeteners as either “natural” or “artificial.” While familiar, this distinction does not reflect how ingredients are scientifically assessed, regulated, or used in support of dietary goals. Most countries evaluating and regulating sweeteners do not make a distinction based on their nature or origin, as the focus […]
New animal study on sucralose and stevia does not alter scientific consensus on their safety
Brussels, 10 April 2026: The International Sweeteners Association (ISA) notes the publication of a new study in Frontiers in Nutrition examining the transgenerational effects of sucralose and stevia under experimental conditions in mice. It is important to place these findings in the appropriate context while reaffirming that they do not challenge the established conclusions on […]
EFSA reconfirms safety of sucralose in its latest scientific opinion
Brussels, 17th February 2026: The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has published today a new scientific opinion confirming the safety of sucralose, one of the most widely used low/no calorie sweeteners.1 As part of the most comprehensive assessment of sucralose in the past 20 years EFSA reviewed the available scientific evidence, including data on short- […]
Robust science backs the use of low/no calorie sweeteners
Brussels, 8th January 2026: In response to the publication of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2025-2030, the International Sweeteners Association (ISA) highlights strong scientific evidence showing that low/no calorie sweeteners (LNCS) can support the important public health goal of sugar reduction. As acknowledged in the Scientific Foundation for the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, clinical and […]
Low/no calorie sweeteners can play an important role in public health
Brussels, 19 November 2025: The International Sweeteners Association (ISA) responds to the recently published Lancet Series ‘Ultra-Processed Foods and Human Health’. There is currently no universally agreed definition of ‘Ultra-Processed Food’ (UPF) and it would be scientifically incorrect to automatically classify food and beverages containing low/no calorie sweeteners as UPFs. Low/no calorie sweeteners are amongst […]
Limitations of the new study on low/no calorie sweetened beverages and liver disease
Brussels, 9 October 2025: The International Sweeteners Association (ISA) would like to point to the limitations of the observational study presented at the United European Gastroenterology (UEG) Week 2025 that reported an association between beverages with low/no calorie sweeteners and liver disease. While observational studies can highlight population-level trends, they cannot establish causation. Importantly, individuals […]
ISA statement on new study on sweeteners and cognitive health
Following the publication of the new study, “Not so sweet: Some sugar substitutes linked to faster cognitive decline,” in Neurology on 3 September 2025, the International Sweeteners Association (ISA) urges a careful interpretation of its findings. While the study has garnered media attention, it is essential to place its results within the broader, established scientific consensus on sweeteners safety.