The Food and Drug Administration has not seen scientific information that would support a change in its conclusions about the safety of aspartame, said Laura Tarantino, director of the agency's Office of Food Additive Safety. In 1981, the FDA determined that aspartame was safe for use in food.
The Italian study concluded aspartame led to higher rates of lymphoma and leukemia in rats. However, the European Food Safety Authority reviewed the data and said it did not support the study's conclusions. The European agency reiterated its previously held position that the low-calorie sweetener is safe.