Artificial sweeteners instead of sugar: are sweeteners harmful to health? The new issue of the BfR2GO science magazine focuses on sugar alternatives
What it's about:
Sugar damages teeth, causes weight gain and promotes diabetes – these are just three of the widely discussed criticisms of the sweet ingredient found in many treats and drinks. Some people with a sweet tooth therefore resort to low-sugar or sugar-free alternatives, which usually contain non-sugar sweeteners. However, some of these are also associated with health risks. Before they are authorised, all sweeteners – just like all other food additives – are tested at the European level to ensure they are safe for human health," says Professor Andreas Hensel, President of the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfRshort forGerman Federal Institute for Risk Assessment). Authorised sweeteners are regularly subject to new assessments in order to take current scientific findings into account. The new BfR2GO science magazine takes a closer look at sweeteners such as aspartame and sucralose.
Find the current issue here:
External Link:https://www.bfr.bund.de/en/publication/bfr2go-issue-22025-main-topic-sweeteners/
For diseases that are for example exacerbated by obesity, many other risk factors typically contribute to the condition over a period of years. In an interview with BfR2GO, scientist Dr Corinna Gréa from the Max Rubner-Institut (MRIshort forMax Rubner Institute) explains how the levels of sugar, salt and fat in ready-to-eat products have changed over the years – and whether more sweeteners are now being used.
The new issue of BfR2GO also profiles the mineral selenium. Humans cannot produce this essential trace element themselves and must consume it through food. The fact sheet in the magazine explains whether dietary supplements are advisable and provides examples of foods containing selenium.
The current meal preparation (“meal prep”) trend is another topic covered in the magazine. To ensure that preparing meals in advance does not have any undesirable health consequences, BfR2GO highlights what needs to be considered when cooking for several days in advance.
The new issue of the magazine also examines who should (not) avoid gluten, as well as how the BfRshort forGerman Federal Institute for Risk Assessment deals with seemingly groundbreaking, attention-grabbing studies that spread quickly in the media but sometimes have scientific weaknesses, as demonstrated by the example of the much-discussed topic of microplastics.
Several EU countries, including Germany, are planning far-reaching restrictions on PFAS, known as "forever chemicals", in order to reduce the accumulation of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in the environment. In view of the proposed ban, BfR2GO describes where there might still be exceptions and what an end to PFAS could mean for non-stick cookware.
In an interview, Jonathan Focke and Maximilian Doeckel from the podcast “Quarks Science Cops” talk about exposing scientific nonsense. Another topic covered in the new BfR2GO is how pesticide residues in food are assessed and restricted to ensure that no adverse health effects are expected for consumers. A portrait of the German Centre for the Protection of Laboratory Animals, which is based at the BfRshort forGerman Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, on the occasion of its tenth anniversary rounds off the issue.
As always, the new BfR2GO is compact and packed with knowledge, providing up-to-date and well-founded information on research and its assessment in the context of consumer health protection and the protection of laboratory animals. Each issue of the magazine presents a current topic from one of the BfRshort forGerman Federal Institute for Risk Assessment's areas of work as its main focus. Additionally, there are reports, interviews and news from all areas of the BfRshort forGerman Federal Institute for Risk Assessment's work.
BfR2GO is published on the BfRshort forGerman Federal Institute for Risk Assessment website in German and English and can be downloaded or ordered free of charge. Anyone who would like to receive the magazine on a regular basis can register for a free subscription at:
External Link:https://www.bfr.bund.de/en/publications/bfr2go/
About the BfRshort forGerman Federal Institute for Risk Assessment
The German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfRshort forGerman Federal Institute for Risk Assessment) is a scientifically independent institution within the portfolio of the German Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Regional Identity (BMLEH). It protects people's health preventively in the fields of public health and veterinary public health. The BfRshort forGerman Federal Institute for Risk Assessment provides advice to the Federal Government as well as the Federal States (‘Laender’) on questions related to food, feed, chemical and product safety. The BfRshort forGerman Federal Institute for Risk Assessment conducts its own research on topics closely related to its assessment tasks.
This text version is a translation of the original German text, which is the only legally binding version.