BRUSSELS, Belgium – Aspartame is a-okay, that’s the findings of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) of the European Union (EU), Reuters reports. The European Union group said that the artificial sweetener does not pose a health risk.

The EFSA’s report spells victory for Coca-Cola and other companies that list aspartame as an ingredient in soft drinks. Last summer, the company promoted the safety of the artificial sweetener in a series of print ads.

While studies have found a link between aspartame and cancer and premature birth, food safety experts in Europe and the United States have disputed those findings as flawed. Nevertheless, consumers have been steering away from artificial sweeteners in high numbers in recent years.

The EFSA recent review of the evidence found no safety concerns for aspartame in the EU “acceptable daily intake” level of 40 milligrams per kilogram of body weight. A 12-ounce can of diet soda has around 180 milligrams of aspartame, meaning that an adult weighing around 165 pounds would need to down more than 16 cans daily to drink more than the recommended amount.

“This opinion represents one of the most comprehensive risk assessments of aspartame ever undertaken,” said Alicja Mortensen, who chairs the group’s Panel on Food Additives and Nutrient Sources Added to Foods. “It’s a step forward in strengthening consumer confidence in the scientific underpinning of the EU food safety system and the regulation of food additives.”