Yes. Aspartame is one of the most thoroughly studied food ingredients, and numerous studies continue to confirm its safety. It is approved for use in more than 100 countries.

The safety of aspartame has been confirmed by bodies including the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and the French Food Safety Agency (Agence Française de Sécurité Sanitaire des Aliments – AFSSA).

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) reconfirmed the safety of aspartame in 2006 and again in 2009. When EFSA reviewed the safety of aspartame once more in 2010, it found no evidence to call that safety into question.

In 2011 EFSA reviewed new studies and again reconfirmed the safety of aspartame and of the other food additives approved in the European Union.

Like other food ingredients, the carbon dioxide used in sparkling beverages has been reviewed by official regulatory bodies and confirmed to be safe. Carbonation means carbon dioxide, which gives a drink its sharp, tingling taste and sensation. Carbon dioxide is a gas that occurs naturally all around us. We breathe in oxygen from the air and breathe out carbon dioxide, while plants do the reverse, absorbing carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen.

Research shows that when a sparkling beverage first enters the mouth, the carbonated water stimulates a number of receptors on the tongue, producing a tingling sensation (Simmons 1999; Cowart 1998).

When the drink is swallowed, most of the carbon dioxide it contains does not reach the stomach — the greater part is lost when the container is opened. The small amount of gas that does reach the stomach is quickly and easily absorbed through the wall of the digestive tract. The volume of gas absorbed in this way is negligible compared with the gas the body produces in the ordinary course of releasing energy.

Sometimes, when a drink is swallowed quickly, air is taken in along with the carbon dioxide and enters the stomach. Apart from leaving the body as burping — which may be socially awkward — this gas causes no problems (Cuomo 2009).

Drinking sparkling beverages does not cause bloating. Most of the carbon dioxide in a sparkling beverage does not reach the stomach, as the greater part is lost when the container is opened. The small amount of gas that does reach the stomach is quickly and easily absorbed through the wall of the digestive tract. The volume of gas absorbed in this way is negligible compared with the gas the body produces under normal conditions (Cuomo 2009).

Drinking caffeinated or carbonated beverages will not weaken your bones or cause osteoporosis. The risk factors for osteoporosis listed by the International Osteoporosis Foundation are age, female gender, family history, menopause, poor nutrition, inadequate intake of calcium and vitamin D, insufficient exercise, a low body mass index (being underweight), smoking and excessive alcohol consumption.

Good dental hygiene is the most important way to keep your teeth healthy. All foods and drinks containing sugar and carbohydrates can contribute to tooth decay, and the risk of decay is higher in an acidic environment. Most sparkling beverages contain acid, just as orange, apple and grape juices do. Maintaining good oral hygiene every time you eat or drink is a major step toward preventing tooth decay altogether.