The Consumer Goods Council of South Africa (CGCSA), in partnership with the International Sweeteners Association (ISA), today hosted a multi-stakeholder roundtable focused on the science, safety evaluation, and current evidence relating to low/no calorie sweeteners (LNCS).
The engagement brought together representatives from academia, scientific and professional associations, public health organisations, consumer representatives, industry, and other stakeholders to facilitate open discussion and scientific exchange on low/no calorie sweeteners and their role within today’s evolving nutrition landscape.
The roundtable provided a platform for participants to unpack current scientific evidence and global regulatory approaches relating to low/no calorie sweeteners, including how these ingredients are assessed for safety by international food safety authorities and their use in food and beverage reformulation. Participants also exchanged perspectives on common areas of public concern and misinformation regarding low/no calorie sweeteners, including discussions relating to health, sweet taste preferences, and front-of-pack communication.
Speaking at the event, Matlou Setati, Executive, Food Safety & Sustainability Initiatives at the Consumer Goods Council of South Africa (CGCSA), highlighted the value of creating spaces for informed technical engagement: “This roundtable demonstrated the importance of bringing together different stakeholders to exchange perspectives and unpack the science relating to low/no calorie sweeteners. Complex nutrition topics benefit from open dialogue, access to credible information, and thoughtful discussion among experts and stakeholders from across sectors.”
Laurent Oger, Director General of the International Sweeteners Association (ISA), said: “We appreciate the opportunity to engage with South African stakeholders in an open, science-focused discussion on low/no calorie sweeteners. These ingredients continue to attract significant public and professional interest around the world, making it essential that discussions are guided by robust scientific evidence, transparent safety assessment processes, and constructive stakeholder dialogue. Low/no calorie sweeteners remain among the most extensively researched ingredients in the global food supply.”
Participants welcomed the opportunity for technical engagement and evidence-sharing, with discussions reflecting broad interest in improving understanding of the science, safety evaluation, and communication of low/no calorie sweeteners within the South African context.
CGCSA and ISA expressed their appreciation to all speakers, organisations and participants who contributed to the engagement and reaffirmed their commitment to supporting science-based dialogue and stakeholder education on nutrition and food-related issues.
For additional information visit: https://www.sweeteners.org/
