Sweetener safety testing

Henkel, J., Sugar Substitutes Americans Opt for Sweetness and Lite, FDA Consumerhttp //web.archive.org/ web/20071214170430/www.fda.gov/fdac/features/1999/699 sugar.html (Safety testing on sweeteners and controversies)... 

Any new sweetener should (1) possess a flavor that is clean and without aftertaste, (2) be made for a price competitive with sugar (sucrose) on a cost-per-sweetness basis, (3) be adequately soluble and stable, and (4) be subjected to and pass the lenthy and costly program of rigorous safety testing required by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Very few meet all of these requirements. 

Food additives in general and sweeteners in particular are extensively tested for their safety before approvals are granted. Safety studies follow some general guidelines and rules, but are specifically adapted to the properties of the single products. For the common intense sweeteners the acceptable daily intake levels as allocated by international agencies and national authorities are in most cases fully sufficient to cover common food habits. 

Food science is the study of the chemistry, microbiology, and processing of foods. Food technicians are responsible for testing foods for quality and acceptability in carefully controlled taste tests. Microbiologists in the food industry monitor the safety of food products. Food analysts work in laboratories to monitor the composition of foods and the presence of pesticides. Some food scientists create new food products or food ingredients, such as artificial sweeteners. 

Because many people like their tea and coffee sweetened, and to replace the sugar in lemonades etc., there is a range of sugar substitutes. These are synthetic chemicals that are very much sweeter than sugar but are not metabolized as metabolic fuels. Even those that can be metabolized (for example aspartame, which is an amino acid derivative) are taken in such small amounts that they make no significant contribution to intake. All of these compounds have been extensively tested for safety, but as a result of concerns about possible hazards some are not permitted in some countries although they are widely used elsewhere. 

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