The review, "Aspartame: A Safety Evaluation Based on Current Use Levels, Regulations, and Toxicological and Epidemiological Studies," published in the September issue of Informa Healthcare's Critical Reviews in Toxicology (Volume 37, Issue 8, pp. 629-727), also identified serious flaws in two recent European studies that claimed to find a link between aspartame and cancer in rats.
The 98-page, peer-reviewed evaluation was carried out by a panel of eight internationally recognized scientists. It considered more than 500 studies, articles and reports conducted over the last 25 years on the health effects of aspartame, including unpublished works submitted to the Food and Drug Administration and the Department of Health and Human Services for regulatory approvals of the ingredient. The study was conducted in a manner that is consistent with the Food and Drug Administration process for evaluating new food ingredients before entry into the marketplace.