EFSA Announces Follow-Up Meeting on Aspartame Consultation

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has announced an April 9,
2013, scientific meeting to discuss its draft opinion on the re-evaluation of
aspartame (E951). Issued by the agency’s Scientific Panel on Food Additives
and Nutrient Sources Added to Food (ANS Panel), the re-evaluation declined
to revise the current Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI) for aspartame after
concluding that the substance and its breakdown products “pose no toxicity
concern for consumers at current levels of exposure.” Additional details about
this conclusion appear in Issue 466 of this Update.

The follow-up meeting seeks to clarify any comments received during
the draft opinion’s consultation period, which ended February 15. Before
adopting its final opinion on aspartame, the ANS Panel will take into account
these responses and meeting discussions, as well as issue a separate report
that outlines these proceedings. EFSA has asked “scientific experts in the field
of food safety and parties who have contributed to the public consultation” to
register for the conference by March 25.