The US Food and Drug Administration debunk previous research claims that the sugar substitute aspartame causes cancer.

According to FDA's Office of Food additive Safety Director, Laura Tarantino:

a review of the data from the 2005 study found "no evidence" that the low-calorie sweetener is a carcinogen. A similar review by the FDA's European counterpart reached the same conclusion.

Therefore the FDA said that the Italian researchers (who claimed that aspartame can cause cancer) have reached the wrong conclusion.

For the last 25 years, aspartame has been used to sweeten sodas, chewing gum, dairy products and even some medicines.

I cannot find the official FDA release on this matter, but covered report can be found at Food Ingredients First, South Coast Today, MSNBC, KGAN and KOMO.

However, the Italian researchers who made the carcinogenity claim on aspartame will present their complete confirmation on April 23, 2007 at the Mount Sinai Medical School of New York, where ERF Scientific Director Morando Soffritti will receive the third Irving J. Selikoff Award (source: Ramazinni Foundation).

[Photo Credit: Geocities]