Acceptable daily intake

Once a sweetener has been found safe by an independent scientific body it is given an Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI). The ADI is the amount of a food additive that can be consumed in the diet every day throughout life without health risks. It is a safe intake level. The granting of an ADI and the approval of a substance signifies that a product is safe.

According to JECFA "the ADI relates to lifetime use and provides a safety margin large enough for toxicologists not to be particularly concerned about short-term use at exposure levels exceeding the ADI providing the average intake over long periods of time does not exceed it." The ADI is the most important practical tool for legislators in ensuring the appropriate and safe use of food additives. The amounts of food additives permitted in different foods and beverages are established so that even the average daily intake by high consumers over prolonged periods of time would not exceed the ADI value. Different international scientific bodies such as JECFA and EFSA use the same method of deriving the ADI independently. This guarantees consistency of food safety worldwide. Dietary surveys have shown that intakes of low-calorie sweeteners are generally well below the ADI.