Paul Monaghan – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Paul Monaghan on 2016-02-09.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, in which countries aspartame has been banned; and for what reason each such ban has been enacted.

Jane Ellison

We are advised by the Food Standards Agency (FSA) that aspartame is permitted in all European Union Member States. It is also permitted in those countries aligned to EU legislation participating in the European Economic Area and European Free Trade Association.

Aspartame has also been evaluated for safety by The Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives and provisions for its use are included in the international Codex Alimentarius General Standard on Food Additives.

Whilst the FSA is not aware of any countries where aspartame is banned, it is possible there are countries which do not have legislation regulating the use of aspartame or other food additives.