Aspartame tested for gene damage in bacteria and mice
What it found
Aspartame did not damage genes in lab tests on bacteria or in mice given it by mouth.
The tests looked at mutation and chromosome damage.
What they found
Animal and lab studies
Bacterial mutation test
Several Salmonella strains and one E. coli strain were treated with aspartame at up to 5000 μg/plate. No mutagenic potential was seen, with or without metabolic activation.
Mouse micronucleus test
Male mice given aspartame by gavage at 500-2000 mg/kg body weight showed no rise in micronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes in bone marrow cells at 24 or 48 hours.
Studies in people and animals
Overall result
Across both tests, aspartame showed no potential for mutagenic or genotoxic activity.
What the authors conclude
“Overall, aspartame had no potential for mutagenic or genotoxic activity.”
Also in their conclusions
- They state that aspartame had no potential for mutagenic or genotoxic activity.
How it was done
Bacteria were treated with aspartame at up to 5000 μg/plate, with and without metabolic activation. Male mice were given 500-2000 mg/kg body weight by gavage, and bone marrow cells were checked 24 or 48 hours later.
What it can’t tell you
- We summarised it from the abstract only.
- These are lab and animal tests. They can't show what happens in people.
- The tests only looked at gene damage, not other health effects.
The paper
- Title
- Mutagenicity and genotoxicity studies of aspartame
- Type
- ReviewThe authors read earlier studies and describe what they found. It isn’t a new study.
- Evidence
- Studies in people · animals · lab
- Summarised from
- Abstract only
- Cite
- Otabe A, Ohta F, Takumi A, Lynch B (2019). Mutagenicity and genotoxicity studies of aspartame. Regulatory toxicology and pharmacology. doi:10.1016/j.yrtph.2018.01.023PubMed 29408486DOI
Summary written 26 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error