Indian Council of Medical Research: Guidelines for Artificial Sweeteners

Guidelines for Usage of Artificial Sweeteners

New Delhi, 08 AUG 2023

The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has recently disclosed the health impact assessment of the non-sugar sweetener aspartame, as conducted by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) and the World Health Organization – Food and Agriculture Organization (WHO-FAO) Joint Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA). According to their findings, there is “limited evidence” suggesting carcinogenicity in humans associated with aspartame.

The IARC has classified aspartame as “possibly carcinogenic‟ to humans (IARC Group 2B), while JECFA has subsequently reaffirmed that the acceptable daily intake should be 40 mg/kg of body weight.

In light of these findings, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has already established standards for various artificial sweeteners in the Food Safety and Standards (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) Regulation of 2011. These standards are based on risk assessments and the Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI) set by the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA). Moreover, the prescribed limits for the use of non-caloric sweeteners in various food products are in alignment with the guidelines provided by the Codex Alimentarius Commission.

Addressing the matter, Prof. S.P. Baghel, the Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, issued a written response in the Rajya Sabha today. The government’s priority remains the safeguarding of public health, and these guidelines aim to ensure the appropriate and safe usage of artificial sweeteners in food products.