Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) today called for submissions on increasing the maximum permitted level for the sweetener Acesulphame potassium in chewing gum.
FSANZ Chief Executive Officer Steve McCutcheon said the application sought to increase the limit for the sweetener from 2000 mg/kg to 5000 mg/kg.
“The increased limit would align the Food Standards Code with regulations in several other countries including Canada and Japan,” Mr McCutcheon said.
“FSANZ has conducted a thorough safety assessment, including a dietary exposure assessment, and concluded there are no public health and safety issues associated with increasing the limit,” he said.
“All FSANZ decisions on standards are notified to ministers responsible for food regulation. The ministers can decide to adopt, amend, or reject standards or they can ask for a review.”