Aspartame exposures in the US population: Demonstration of a novel approach for exposure estimates to food additives using NHANES data

• Published in: Journal of exposure science & environmental epidemiology Vol. 35; no. 3; pp. 351 - 361
• Main Authors: Riess, L. Elizabeth, Huynh, Benjamin Q., Nachman, Keeve E.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Nature Publishing Group US 01.05.2025; Nature Publishing Group
• Subjects: Additives; Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Aspartame; Aspartame - analysis; Child; Child, Preschool; Diabetes mellitus; Diet; Dietary Exposure - analysis; Dietary Exposure - statistics & numerical data; Dietary intake; Epidemiology; Estimates; Exposure; Female; Food additives; Food Additives - analysis; Food intake; Food safety; Health risk assessment; Health surveys; Humans; Infant; Male; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Middle Aged; Nutrition Surveys; Public health; Soft drinks; Special diets; Sweetening Agents; United States; Young Adult; United States; United States > US; Exposure Modeling; Dietary Exposure; Epidemiology; Chemicals in Products
• ISSN: 1559-0631; 1559-064X; 1559-064X
• DOI: 10.1038/s41370-024-00678-7

Background Exposure to food additives is widespread but up-to-date and accurate intake estimates are rarely available. The safety of the food additive aspartame is the subject of recent controversy and intake estimates for this nonnutritive sweetener are typically derived from surrogates such as diet soda consumption. Objective We describe an approach for developing nationally representative dietary exposure estimates for food additives that combines intake from dietary recalls and grocery purchasing information. Methods We combined NielsenIQ Homescan Consumer Panel purchasing data with the USDA Global Branded Food Products database and the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey to estimate aspartame intake and prevalence of consumption for the US population. We examined points of departure for aspartame from CompTox Chemicals Dashboard to provide context for exposures and potential effects. Results Mean, 90th percentile, and 95th percentile aspartame intake estimates are below the acceptable daily intake (50 mg/kg/day) and are lower than estimates from previous decades. Groups with the highest aspartame intakes are non-Hispanic whites, 60- to 69-year-olds, and individuals on diabetic diets. Aspartame exposure is highly prevalent (62.6%) in the US including sensitive populations such as pregnant women and children. Impact statement Exposure to the widely consumed food additive aspartame is not well characterized, and concerns about potential health effects remain despite assurances of safety when consumed under conditions of intended use. This work provides current intake estimates for the US population with important comparisons across demographic groups and individuals on special diets. The approach includes ingredient statement and grocery purchasing data to capture all aspartame-containing products, beyond diet soda, in intake estimates. This framework also has the potential for application to other food ingredients.