Cyclamate in food poses a danger to our health

19.2.2020

Question for written answer E-001008/2020
to the Commission
Rule 138
Susanna Ceccardi (ID), Gianna Gancia (ID), Anna Bonfrisco (ID), Elena Lizzi (ID)

Cyclamate is an artificial sweetener (code E952) with a high sweetening power; according to numerous studies, in some people it can lead to the formation of a substance (CHA) which, when given in significant doses in animal testing, resulted in testicular damage.

In the EU, this substance is present in a variety of products such as soft drinks, cakes and puddings, ice cream, desserts and canned fruit, while it has been banned in the United States since 1969. Even Coca-Cola uses different ingredients when producing one of its most famous drinks, Coca-Cola Zero: the cans served in many European countries, such as Italy, contain cyclamate, when the same product in the United States does not.

This is because the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has long suspected that the substance might be toxic and could even be carcinogenic.

The European Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI) standard provides for a maximum of 7 milligrammes of cyclamate per day per kilogramme of body weight for children up to the age of eight.

In the light of the latest scientific studies, does the Commission not agree that the use of the artificial sweetener cyclamate in products distributed in the European Union should be reviewed and analysed?