Health Warning Issued on Use of Artificial Sweetener

Anwar Ahmad - Khaleej Times

24 February 2010,

ABU DHABI — Excess usage of aspartame, a sweetener used as a sugar substitute in many foods and beverages, might lead to various health hazards, the Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority (ADFCA) has warned manufacturers in the emirate.

Following reports that aspartame in ‘Nova’ chewing gum (not manufactured in the UAE) might pose health hazards, the ADFCA is conducting regular risk assessment and examination of food additives to ensure their safety for human consumption.

Aspartame is an artificial sweetener and 200 times sweeter than sugar in typical concentrations, without the high-energy value of sugar.

The UAE standardisation regulates the daily permissible intake of aspartame and sweeteners at 15mg of the body weight and there should be a warning saying that aspartame is among the many substances that must be avoided by people with phenylketonuria (PKU), a rare genetic condition, Mohammed Jalal Al Reyaysa, spokesperson of the ADFCA, said on Monday.

The UAE specifications have allowed addition of aspartame within a maximum limit of 5,500 milligramd/kilogram in sugar-free chewing gum, Al Reyaysa said.

Use of additives in foods has strict conditions and limits and the most important of them is non-addition of the material in children’s foods, Al Reyaysa said. The ADFCA urged local manufactures to use aspartame within the permissible limit and under the prescribed requirements which are specified in the food card, including warnings on labels about the product — whether it is dedicated for diabetes or not and whether it is cholesterol-free. Al Reyaysa also warned consumers not to overuse foods containing such artificial additives.

Codex Alimentarius Commission of the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) has allowed the addition of the substance to gum at a maximum rate of 10,000 milligrams. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the use of aspartame in beverages and pastries and confectioneries.

No pig derivatives in gum

He said ‘Extra’ gum is sold in Abu Dhabi market doesn’t contain pig derivatives The authority had carried out laboratory tests which confirmed this.

The ADFCA has contacted the manufacturer who provided documents refuting rumours about the presence of pig derivatives in the gum.