Is it safe to drink diet soda during my pregnancy?

1. Diet soda and other diet products are safe to take, even if you are pregnant. The sweeteners are not harmful to your unborn child. But water remains the best.

How is a sweetener checked to be safe?

1. The EFSA, the independent food safety advisory body of the European Union, always conducts an extensive study of the safety file of a substance before it enters the market. After extensive research it is decided whether the substance is safe enough to eat and drink on a daily basis. And if so, the substance will be assigned an E number. The substance is then found to be safe.

How can I be sure it's safe?

1. For aspartame and stevia, a maximum amount has been set that applies to everyone, including pregnant women. This maximum is called the acceptable daily intake (ADI). Sweeteners do not endanger the health of you and your baby. Because even if you drink (a lot of) diet soda on a daily basis, you remain below the ADI standard. The acceptable daily intake (ADI) of aspartame is 40 milligrams per kilogram of body weight. You can consume this amount daily throughout your life without incurring any health damage. With a normal consumption pattern, the amount of sweeteners remains well below the ADI.

2. For aspartame and stevia, a maximum amount has been set that applies to everyone, including pregnant women. This maximum is called the acceptable daily intake (ADI). Sweeteners do not endanger the health of you and your baby. Because even if you drink (a lot of) diet soda on a daily basis, you remain below the ADI standard. The acceptable daily intake (ADI) of aspartame is 40 milligrams per kilogram of body weight. You can take this amount daily throughout your life without incurring any health damage. With a normal consumption pattern, the amount of sweeteners remains well below the ADI.