The extensive research done with aspartame overwhelmingly demonstrates it safety. In addition, aspartame has been consumed by hundreds of millions of people around the world over the past 20 years, representing billions of man-years of safe exposure. Nonetheless, the safety of aspartame continues to be challenged by individuals who either ignore the data or are not familiar with the totality of the data. The allegations raised regarding aspartame by a few individuals have not been based on controlled scientific studies. Rather, they have been largely based on anecdote, personal opinion, conjecture and hypothesis. Further, the few studies suggestive of an apparent effect of aspartame are not reproducible by others, are done with dosage routes of administration (e.g., ip or in vitro) not relevant to aspartame consumption, or are so flawed from a methodological or statistical standpoint that valid conclusions cannot be drawn. The scientific evaluation of aspartame’s safety has extended well beyond standard safety testing for food additives. When the safety data for aspartame are evaluated as a whole, the weight of scientific evidence is clear that aspartame is safe for its intended uses, and there are no unresolved questions regarding its safety.
