Position of the American Dietetic Association: appropriate use of nutritive and non-nutritive sweeteners

Abstract

Moderation in the consumption of nutritive and non-nutritive sweeteners appears to be prudent advice for persons who choose to use sweeteners. The major benefit from use of sweeteners is a perceived improvement in the quality of life. Some nutritive sweeteners also provide important textural properties to many foods. Sweeteners should be used in the context of an otherwise nutritious and well-balanced diet. Excessive intake of any sweetener requires nutrition counseling for basic nutrition reasons. An individual can minimize potential risks from any one sweetener by using a variety of available sweeteners, thus ingesting less of any specific sweetener. Research into possible risks of long-term uses of non-nutritive sweeteners, either alone or in combination, should continue. It is important that the public have a choice of various non-nutritive sweeteners, with safe and reasonable guidelines on how to use each. As new sweeteners become available, they must receive the same rigorous testing to which previously approved sweeteners have been subjected.