Felicity Lawrence, "Fresh fears raised about aspartame", Guardian, July

15, 2005,
Link: http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,3604,1528885,00.html

The European Food Safety Authority is reviewing "as a matter of high
priority" the results of a large new study into aspartame, the
artificial sweetener consumed by millions of people worldwide and used
in more than 6,000 food and drink products.

Researchers at the Ramazzini Institute for cancer research in Italy say

their study shows that aspartame causes lymphomas and leukaemia in
female laboratory animals "at doses very close to the acceptable daily
intake for humans". The authors of the study also say that while rats
fed aspartame ate less food, there was no difference in body weight
between treated and untreated animals.

One of the largest manufacturers of aspartame, the Japanese
multinational Ajinomoto said the allegations made by the Italian study
were "not consistent with the extensive body of scientific research
which already exists on aspartame".

It questioned the methods used and the record of the institute. It
pointed to four previous studies into the carcinogenicity of aspartame
that had found no relationship between aspartame and any form of
cancer. It added that aspartame broke down in the body into the
building blocks of protein that occur widely in the rest of food.

It also helped people reduce their calorie intake. This contribution to

cutting obesity helped to prevent cancer, a spokesman said.

The Ramazzini Institute has sent its first results to the European Food

Safety Authority. EFSA confirmed yesterday that it would be asking its
expert scientific panel on food additives to review the results "as a
matter of high priority, in the context of the previous extensive
safety data available on aspartame".

EFSA added that until that review had taken place it did not have a
basis for recommending that consumers change their diet in respect of
aspartame.

Although it had been presented with an outline of the findings by the
institute in June, it is still waiting for the full pathology reports
from the researchers. The review will also take into account all the
other studies and data available.

"This will probably take several months," an EFSA statement said.

The institute said the full data would be published in six weeks' time.

Aspartame is widely used to sweeten chewing gum, soft drinks, yoghurts
and desserts and other low-calorie foods, and medicines including
syrups and antibiotics for children.

Aspartame has been authorised for use in foods for a long time in many
countries but has "a controversial history", according to EFSA. Since
its approval, the safety of aspartame and its breakdown products has
been widely discussed in the press and among scientists. "Up to now
aspartame has been considered safe, based on the studies available."

The new study was conducted on 1,800 rats during their full lifespan.
Six different dose levels were tested against a control group. The
institute said the study, which is to appear in its own publication,
the European Journal of Oncology, had been peer-reviewed by seven
international experts "in anticipation of controversy".

Ajinomoto said it welcomed the decision by EFSA to review the claim
made by the Ramazzini Institute objectively.