Understanding the ADI Value and Sweetener Safety

The Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI) value indicates the amount of a food additive that can be safely consumed every day over a lifetime without causing any adverse health effects. It is not a maximum consumption threshold but rather a safety benchmark designed for lifelong use.

How the ADI Value is Calculated

The ADI value is derived from long-term studies that identify the levels of daily consumption at which no adverse effects have been observed. This level is known as the No Observed Adverse Effect Level (NOAEL). To ensure a high level of safety, this value is typically divided by a safety factor of 100, resulting in the ADI value.

Permitted Sweetener Quantities

Maximum allowable amounts of sweeteners in various food categories across the EU are based on the ADI value. For example, the ADI for aspartame is set at 40 mg per kg of body weight. Legally, soft drinks can contain up to 600 mg of aspartame per liter. For an individual weighing 70 kg, this means they could safely consume up to 23 glasses (200 ml each) of such soft drinks daily. However, since most beverages use only about 150 mg of aspartame per liter, the actual safe quantity could allow for the consumption of up to 93 glasses per day.