Press Release 15.10.2025

Over 350,000 citizens call for an EU-wide ban on aspartame: civil society petition handed over to the European Commission

  • Additives

foodwatch symbolically handed over the signatures of 350,000 citizens calling for a ban on aspartame. (The reproduction of the photo is royalty-free (c) foodwatch)

  • 350,000 people from across Europe have signed thejoint petition from foodwatch, Yuka and French Cancer League (Ligue contre le cancer) calling for a ban on aspartame: mocked handover in front of the European Commission today
  • Aspartame is classified by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) as “possibly carcinogenic to humans
  • The accumulation of scientific studies on the health risks associated with the consumption of aspartame requires the application of the precautionary principle

Today, foodwatch, together with the French Cancer League (Ligue contre le cancer) and Yuka, symbolically handed over a petition calling for an EU-wide ban on aspartame. This colourful demonstration in front of the Berlaymont building, headquarters of the European Commission, illustrated the delivery of over 350,000 signatures to President Ursula von der Leyen. Citizens across Europe are calling for a precautionary ban on aspartame, a controversial artificial sweetener classified by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) as “possibly carcinogenic to humans”.

Aspartame is commonly found in diet soft drinks, sugar-free chewing gum, yoghurts, flavoured waters and many other “low-calorie”, “no-sugar” or “protein” products consumed daily across Europe.

Since February 2025, when foodwatch, the French Cancer League (Ligue contre le cancer) and Yuka launched the petition, the scientific body of evidence linking aspartame consumption to harmful health effects has kept growing. Existing studies have associated the sweetener not only with increased cancer risks, but also with higher incidence of type 2 diabetes, ischemic strokes and damage to the gut microbiota.

Despite these findings, aspartame remains authorised for use in food and beverages across the EU — including in products frequently consumed by children and pregnant women.

“The European Commission cannot continue to turn a blind eye on the growing scientific warnings on aspartame and the hundreds of thousands of citizens who are asking for a ban. The EU has a legal duty to protect public health, and the precautionary principle allows it to take action in case of concerns and scientific uncertainties. However, the Commission continues to allow a substance possibly causing cancer and other harmful effects in our food. With independent scientists raising the alarm about the possible risks of aspartame for health for decades, inaction is no longer acceptable,” said Natacha Cingotti, International Senior Campaigns Strategist at foodwatch.

The office of Commission President Ursula von der Leyen declined to meet with foodwatch, Ligue contre le cancer and Yuka to receive the petition and discuss the state of play regarding the substance’s ongoing authorisation in the EU. Meanwhile, the number of signatures continues to rise — a clear sign of growing public concern about aspartame’s potential health risks.

foodwatch, the French Cancer League (Ligue contre le cancer) and Yuka urge the European Commission and Member States to apply the precautionary principle and suspend its authorisation without delay.

Sources and more information

Press Contact: 

foodwatch International 
Andreas Winkler, media@foodwatch.org, +49 (0) 1 74 / 3 75 16 89

Yuka
Julie Chapon, julie.chapon@yuka.io, +33 (0)6 67 41 36 99 
and Zoé Kerlo, toxicologist, zoe@yuka.io, +33 (0)7 70 88 83 00

Ligue contre le cancer
Louis Linel, louis.linel@ligue-cancer.net, +33 (0) 1 53 55 25 31 

foodwatch is a not-for-profit organisation fighting for safe, healthy and affordable food for all. We make consumers' voices heard, we campaign for greater transparency in the food sector, and we defend our right to food that does not harm people or the environment. foodwatch is a citizen counterweight and whistleblower in the food sector. foodwatch is totally independent and refuses any subsidies from governments or the agri-food industry. We operate at national and European level, and are present in France, Germany, the Netherlands, Austria and Brussels. 

La Ligue contre le cancer is France's largest independent non-profit organisation in the fight against cancer. With almost 525,000 members and 13,000 volunteers, the Ligue is a grassroots movement organised into a federation of 103 departmental committees. Together, they fight in four complementary directions: research to cure, prevention to protect, support to help, mobilisation to act. Today, the League is making the fight against cancer a societal challenge, bringing together as many health, economic, social and political players as possible in every region. By breaking down taboos and fears, the League is helping to change the image of cancer and cancer sufferers. For more information: www.ligue-cancer.net 

Yuka is a 100% independent mobile application that analyses the impact of food and cosmetic products on health. By scanning the barcode of a product, the application provides access to a score out of 100 associated with a colour code ranging from green to red, as well as details of the product's composition. The application now has 75 million users in 12 different countries. As well as helping consumers to make more conscious choices, Yuka's mission is also to encourage manufacturers to improve the composition of their products. See: https://yuka.io/