Is it true that artificial (or non-nutritive) sweeteners, especially aspartame, cause serious health problems, including cancer?

It’s FALSE. Aspartame has been the subject of more than 200 scientific studies that confirm its safety as a non-nutritive sweetener. It is approved for use in 100 countries around the world and by food regulatory bodies including Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ), Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) in the US and the Food Standards Authority (FSA) in the UK. The Coca-Cola Health and Wellness Advisory Council has recently investigated a wide body of research into non-nutritive sweeteners and concluded that the majority of scientific literature shows that aspartame has no detrimental effects on human health and may help people looking to maintain a low energy diet. For more information, click here

Facts on caffeine

Caffeine is found in coffee beans, tea leaves, cocoa beans, and other plants. People around the world have enjoyed caffeine as part of their diets for more than 100 years. The Coca-Cola Company in Australia offers both caffeine-free and caffeinated drinks.

One of the most studied ingredients

Caffeine is one of the most comprehensively studied ingredients in the food supply, with centuries of safe use. Regulatory agencies throughout the world including Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ), the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the UK Food Standards Agency (FSA) consider the appropriate use of caffeine in food to be safe.

Pregnant or nursing women, or women trying to become pregnant, should consult a doctor regarding caffeine consumption.

Caffeine in the diet

The most commonly known sources of caffeine are coffee, cocoa beans, and tea leaves. Caffeine levels in popular products are as follows:

Food	Caffeine content
Percolated coffee	60-120 mg / 250mL cup
Formulated caffeinated beverages or 'Energy' Drinks	80 mg / 250 mL can
Instant coffee (1 teaspoon/cup)	60-80 mg / 250 mL cup
Tea	10-50 mg / 250 mL cup
Coca-Cola	36.4mg/ 375ml can
Milk Chocolate	20 mg / 100g bar

Source FSANZ, for more information visit www.foodstandards.gov.au/foodmatters/caffeine/

Caffeine in sparkling drinks

Caffeine is an integral part of the complex flavour and overall profile of some sparkling drinks, which people enjoy for refreshment, taste and hydration. For over 100 years, in some cases, the formulas for these drinks have carefully balanced a mix of ingredients, including sweeteners, carbonation, caffeine, and other flavourings to produce the refreshing and tangy taste that consumers prefer, especially when served cold or with ice. The bitter taste of caffeine is part of the complex flavour profile of these drinks.

The amount of caffeine in most caffeine-containing sparkling drinks is relatively small - about 30 milligrams of caffeine per 240ml serving, less than one-third the amount present in a cup of drip-style coffee (104-192 mg per 240ml). However, because some people prefer drinks without caffeine, many sparkling drinks are also available in caffeine-free versions.

Is caffeine addictive?

Addiction is a loosely used and, at times, inaccurate word that means different things to different people. People who say they are "addicted" to caffeine tend to use the term loosely, like saying they are "addicted" to chocolate, running, shopping, working, or television. However, caffeine is not addictive as most experts in the scientific community define the term. According to the World Health Organization, "There is no evidence whatsoever that caffeine use has even remotely comparable physical and social consequences which are associated with serious drugs of abuse."

Unlike drug abuse, people who choose to consume foods and beverages that contain caffeine can control or moderate their caffeine intake. Most people who consume caffeine maintain a relatively consistent level of intake.

Caffeine is considered a mild stimulant. Scientific studies confirm that although many people enjoy caffeinated products, those who choose to stop consuming or reduce caffeine in their diets can do so without serious medical intervention or serious psychological or physical effects. The side effects that some people experience, such as headaches, tend to be mild and pass within a few days.

If you have questions about caffeine and nutrition or health, you should ask your doctor or an Accredited Practising Dietitian.

Is caffeine dehydrating?

Recent scientific consensus concludes caffeinated beverages contribute to the body's hydration needs similarly to non-caffeinated beverages. The Food and Nutrition Board of the Institute of Medicine in its February 2004 report on Dietary Reference Intakes for Water, Potassium, Sodium, Chloride and Sulfate state, "... caffeinated beverages appear to contribute to the daily total water intake similar to that contributed by non-caffeinated beverages."

In a study examining the effect of caffeinated and non-caffeinated beverages on hydration status, no significant differences were found in the effect of various combinations on hydration status (Grandjea, A et. al. The Effect of Caffeinated , Non-Caffeniated, Caloric and Non-Caloric beverages on Hydration, J. Am. College of Nutrition, 2000. 19, 591-600).

In addition a recent review on hydration concluded that moderate ingestion of caffeine (<300mg) does not promote dehydration (Ganio MS, et. al. Evidence-Based Approach to Lingering Hydration Questions, Clin. Sports. Med. 2007, 26, 1-16).