The European Food Safety Authority’s FAF Panel reconfirmed acceptable daily intakes for aspartame and acesulfame K, estimated exposures remain below those limits, and recommended updates to sweetener specifications.
Salt of aspartame-acesulfame (E 962) dissociates into aspartame and acesulfame after ingestion and is authorized for use in sugar-free and energy-reduced foods and beverages in the EU.
The Panel recommended updating EU specifications for E 962 to align with component specifications and suggested reviewing arsenic and lead limits in aspartame (E 951) specifications.
Authority (EFSA) completed a re-evaluation of the food additive known as salt of aspartame-acesulfame (E 962). EFSA's Panel on Food Additives and Flavorings (FAF) concluded there are no safety concerns for the currently reported uses and use levels of E 962, as well as its component sweeteners acesulfame K (E 950) and aspartame (E 951). The opinion was adopted in July 2026 during an open plenary of the FAF Panel.
The FAF Panel recommended updating EU specifications for E 962 so that the specification for the salt is consistent with the specifications for the aspartame and acesulfame K raw materials used in its production. In line with EFSA's approach in other sweetener re-evaluations, the Panel also recommended reviewing the maximum limits for arsenic and lead in the specifications for aspartame (E 951).
Producers and formulators: The recommendation to update E 962 specifications means manufacturers should check that raw materials used to produce the salt meet current component specifications. Any changes to arsenic and lead limits for aspartame could affect supply chain testing and acceptance criteria.
Regulators and standards bodies: The opinion follows EFSA protocols published for public consultation in 2019 (hazard identification and characterization of sweeteners) and 2020 (exposure assessment). The Panel's recommendations could inform future updates to EU additive specifications and regulatory oversight.
Consumers and public health: EFSA's exposure estimates indicate consumption of authorized products containing these sweeteners, as currently reported, does not exceed the established ADIs for the general population and age groups assessed.
The scientific opinion was adopted in July 2026 in an open plenary meeting of the FAF Panel. The assessment followed EFSA's published protocols on sweetener hazard and exposure assessment.
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