EFSA confirms the safety of aspartame-acesulfame salt (E 962)

EFSA has completed the re-evaluation of the additive E 962 (aspartame-acesulfame salt) , confirming its safety at current levels of use .

For producers of sugar-free or low-calorie foods and drinks that use this sweetener, the news brings operational continuity but also some technical requirements to monitor in the coming months.

The verdict in summary

The EFSA Panel on Food Additives and Flavourings (FAF) has not identified any safety concerns for any of the three ingredients involved in the E 962 supply chain: acesulfame K (E 950), aspartame (E 951) and salt itself , which once ingested dissociates into its two original components.

The acceptable daily intakes (ADI) remain those already known:

• 40 mg/kg body weight/day for aspartame (reconfirmed value);
• 15 mg/kg body weight/day for acesulfame K (value already revised in a previous evaluation).

Current exposure estimates, across all population groups, remain below both thresholds. Therefore, there are no immediate implications for formulations or labeling dosages.

What companies should do: technical recommendations

The EFSA opinion not only confirms its safety, but also indicates two updates to the EU specifications that companies producing and using E 962 will have to follow when they are implemented into legislation:

• Alignment of the specifications of E 962 with those already foreseen for aspartame and acesulfame K used in its production – a particularly relevant issue for ingredient suppliers and for quality control at the procurement stage.
• Revision of the arsenic and lead limits in the specifications for aspartame (E 951), in line with the approach already adopted for other re-evaluated sweeteners. Companies using pure aspartame (not just the E 962 form) will have to monitor the evolution of these limits in their supplier specifications.

These points do not imply immediate mandatory changes, but they anticipate likely updates to the EU Regulation on food additives: it is advisable for the quality and regulatory affairs departments to monitor them.

Why it matters for the industry

Regulatory stability : no downward revision of the ADI means that existing formulations based on E 962 remain fully compliant, without the need for reformulation.

Consumer communication : The topic of aspartame remains sensitive from a perceptual standpoint, also due to the 2023 IARC classification as a "possible carcinogen"—which, however, has been maintained without changes to the safety thresholds by EFSA and JECFA (FAO/WHO). Companies can continue to cite EFSA's scientific confirmation as an argument supporting the safety of their "sugar-free" or "reduced-calorie" products.

Supply Chain and Suppliers : Those purchasing E 962 from third-party suppliers should begin reviewing the roadmap for compliance with the new arsenic and lead specifications to avoid supply disruptions when the requirements are formalized.