U.S. pediatrics group issues nonnutritive sweeteners policy statement

A new American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) policy statement offers a summary of the existing data around nonnutritive sweeteners and recommends future research into how they affect children’s weight, taste preferences, the risk for diabetes, and long-term safety.

The AAP policy statement “The Use of Nonnutritive Sweeteners in Children” published in Pediatrics, recommends that food and beverage manufacturers report nonnutritive sweetener content on food and beverage labels, rather than just listing them among ingredients, since they are now so widely available and consumed.

Eight nonnutritive sweeteners are approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Saccharin, aspartame, acesulfame-potassium, sucralose, neotame, and advantame were approved as food additives, while stevia and luo han guo (monk fruit) are approved under the “generally recognized as safe” (GRAS) designation.

As the obesity epidemic has driven increased use of these products, attention is directed at conflicting evidence over whether nonnutritive sweeteners help control weight. Most short-term studies suggest that substituting a nonnutritive sweetener for sugar may reduce weight gain and promote small amounts of weight loss in children, according to the AAP. However, data is limited. There is also research suggesting possible links between nonnutritive sweetener use and weight gain. In addition, some studies suggest links between nonnutritive sweetener use and changes in appetite and taste preferences, as well as in the gut microbiome, which may affect blood sugar levels and lead to metabolic syndrome, insulin resistance, diabetes, and weight gain. But findings remain inconsistent.

Knowing the amounts of nonnutritive sweeteners in products would help ensure children’s consumption remains below acceptable daily intake levels, said Carissa Baker-Smith, lead author of the AAP policy statement and an associate professor of pediatrics at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. Research suggests that most children’s nonnutritive sweetener intake is within the acceptable level, but some has found, based on estimated consumption from 24-hour dietary recall, that intake of nonnutritive sweeteners may exceed the acceptable daily intake.

In response to the new policy guidelines, the Calorie Control Council, an international association representing the low- and reduced-calorie food and beverage industry, issued the following statement: “The new policy statement questions the safety and effectiveness of nonnutritive sweeteners—also called low and no calorie sweeteners (LNCS)—when consumed by children, going so far as to imply that LNCS contribute to weight gain, diabetes, and other health ailments and recommends that the amount of sweetener be listed on product labels.”

“The Calorie Control Council takes issue with these claims and maintains its longstanding position that, when consumed as part of a healthy and balanced diet, the consumption of LNCS may serve as a tool for managing overall caloric and sugar intake,” said Robert Rankin, president of the Calorie Control Council.

Press release

Calorie Control Council statement