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 Authority’s (EFSA) opinion, published today, which reconfirms the safety of the low/no calorie sweetener acesulfame K.1 All food additives permitted for use in the European Union before January 2009 are currently being re-assessed by EFSA, and acesulfame K’s re-evaluation is part of this process.
Since its discovery in 1967 and following approval by several food safety authorities around the world – including in the EU in 1985 and 2000, acesulfame K has been used in a wide range of low or reduced-calorie food products and beverages.
In this latest review, EFSA’s scientific experts assessed the totality of the available scientific evidence, looking at short-term and long-term effects, and concluded that acesulfame K is safe and increased its Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI) to 15 mg/kg body weight.1 It has also been confirmed that even the highest estimate of consumer exposure to acesulfame K is generally below this protective level.
Laurent Oger, ISA Director General commented: “Conclusions about the safety of acesulfame K support a history of safe use for decades. The EFSA re-evaluation adds up to reviews and approval processes conducted by regulatory authorities around the world, including the Joint Food and Agriculture Organization/World Health Organization Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA), Health Canada and the Food Standards Australia and New Zealand – which all confirmed that acesulfame K is safe.”
Amidst global health challenges like obesity and diabetes, acesulfame K and other low/no calorie sweeteners can help reduce sugar intake and create healthier food environments. They offer sweet-tasting options with few or no calories, aiding in overall calorie reduction2, and blood glucose management3 when used instead of sugar in a balanced diet. Additionally, low/no calorie sweeteners do not contribute to tooth decay as they are not fermentable by oral bacteria.4
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