Risk Assessments of Cyclamate, Saccharin, Neohesperidine DC, Steviol Glycosides and Neotamefrom Soft Drinks, “Saft” and Nectar.
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Date
2015-01
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Abstract
The Norwegian Scientific Committee for Food Safety (Vitenskapskomiteen for mattrygghet, VKM),
Panel on Food Additives, Flavourings, Processing Aids, Materials in Contact with Food and
Cosmetics, has at the request of the Norwegian Food Safety Authority (Mattilsynet) conducted a
risk assessment of the intense sweeteners cyclamate, saccharin, neohesperidine DC, steviol
glycosides and neotame in soft drinks, “saft” and nectar. The risk assessment includes exposure
assessments and the calculated exposures are compared to the acceptable daily intake (ADI) for
the respective sweeteners. VKM was also requested to compare the current calculated intake of
saccharin and cyclamate to the calculated intake reported by VKM in 2007 (the VKM report «Impact
on health when sugar is replaced with intense sweeteners in soft drinks, “saft” and nectar») when possible (VKM, 2007).
Six different intake scenarios with varying concentrations of added sweeteners (either the average
concentration or the highest reported concentration for the respective sweetener) and varying
consumption of beverages with sweeteners (either the actual reported consumption of beverages
added sweetener or the assumption that all reported beverages were added sweeteners) were
used for the exposure calculations.
• Scenario 1 gives the best estimate of the current situation in the population (average content of
sweeteners, actual reported consumption).
• Scenario 2 is based on the average content of sweeteners and that all consumed beverages
contain sweeteners.
• Scenario 3 is based on the highest reported content of sweeteners and the actual reported
consumption.
• Scenario 4 is based on the highest reported content of sweeteners and that all consumed
beverages contain sweeteners.
Scenarios 5 and 6 are based on the maximum allowed amounts of sweeteners within a category in
accordance with the Regulation on food additives, within the categories soft drinks, “saft” and nectar
in Norway (Regulation No 668 of 6 June 2011 on food additives, 2011). • In scenario 5 the consumption of beverages with added sweeteners or sugar reported in dietary
surveys were used for the calculations.
• In scenario 6 it was assumed that all consumed soft drinks, “saft” and nectar contained
sweeteners (no sugar).
In the current risk assessment, the intake of the sweeteners was calculated for 2-year-old children
and 18-70 year old men and women. Due to lack of new dietary surveys, the other age groups of
children and adolescents were not included.
For all age groups in all scenarios, the intake of the sweeteners cyclamate, saccharin,
neohesperidine DC, steviol glycosides and neotame was below their respective established ADI
values. Due to possible differences in the calculation, it was not possible to compare the current
calculated intake of saccharin and cyclamate to the calculated intake reported by VKM in 2007.
VKM concludes that there is no major health concern related to the intake of the sweeteners
cyclamate, saccharin, neohesperidine DC, steviol glycosides and neotame from the beverage
categories included in this risk assessment per today.
VKM further concludes that among young women who are high consumers of beverages with
cyclamate, and 2-year-old children who are high consumers of beverages with steviol glycosides,
the estimated intake approaches the ADI values. The high intakes approaching ADI are considered
conservative estimates, as the highest reported content of sweetener or the maximum allowed
amounts is used. Thus, these estimates are only relevant for the part of the population that are both
loyal to beverages with sweeteners and a particular brand of sweetened beverage. It should be
noted that intake of sweeteners from other foods or from tabletop sweeteners is not included in the
intake estimates, and that a considerable contribution from these sources cannot be excluded.
Description
Keywords
VKM, Norwegian scientific committee for food safety, cyclamate, neohesperidine DC, neotame, risk assessment, saccharin, “saft”, soft drink, steviol glycosides
Citation
Steffensen Inger-Lise, Alexander Jan, Binderup Mona-Lise, Dahl Knut Helkås, Granum Berit, Hetland Ragna Bogen, Husøy Trine, Paulsen Jan Erik, Thrane Vibeke. Risk Assessments of Cyclamate, Saccharin, Neohesperidine DC, Steviol Glycosides and Neotamefrom Soft Drinks, “Saft” and Nectar. European Journal of Nutrition & Food Safety. 2015 Jan-Mar; 5(1): 72-74.