Neotame is a sweetener that is used as a sugar substitute in cakes, soft drinks and chewing gum, among other things. The drug is used in more than 130 countries, including the Netherlands, the Sweeteners Knowledge Center tells RTL News. A recent British study, which used human intestinal cells, now shows that neotame can lead to serious health problems. Even if you only ingest small amounts, this can weaken your intestines.
Sepsis
The scientists discovered that the substance can cause several diseases and conditions, such as irritable bowel syndrome, insulin resistance and blood poisoning (sepsis), an inflammatory response of the whole body to an infection. The latter is very worrying, because 3,500 people in the Netherlands die from sepsis every year. “On the one hand, it is a healthier alternative to sugar, but it can also be harmful,” says lead researcher Havovi Chichger, “Neotame can damage the intestinal wall by causing damage to the ‘good bacteria’ in the intestines.”
Just wait a little longer
However, this research result is not immediately a cause for concern, according to Annet Roodenburg of the HAS Green Academy. According to Annet, neotame was approved by the European Food Safety Agency (ESFA) in 2010 and is now undergoing further research by the ESFA. “If it turns out that it is indeed more harmful than thought, two measures can be taken: the permitted dose in foods is reduced, or the processing of the substance is banned completely,” says Annet.
According to the Sweeteners Knowledge Center, there is currently no reason to advise Dutch people to avoid neotame. “We are awaiting the outcome of the evaluation by the European Food Safety Agency,” a spokesperson for the knowledge center told RTL News.
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Source: RTL News
Tags: note sugar substitute intestinal complaints
