The 2015 Dietary Guidelines for Americans released last week by the federal government confirmed the safety of FDA-approved low- and no-calorie sweeteners, putting to rest the questions initially raised by the Advisory Committee last year and that tend to perpetuate on the Internet.

“Based on the available scientific evidence, these high-intensity sweeteners have been determined to be safe for the general population,” the Guidelines state.

This stamp of approval comes in addition to affirmation by the World Health Organization (WHO), U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) that low- and no-calorie sweeteners are safe for use in both foods and beverages.

The Guidelines went on to note that low- and no-calorie beverage options can be a good tool to help reduce your overall calories, especially when you are looking for something other than water.

As public health challenges such as obesity continue to be a concern for our country, America’s leading beverage companies are committed to working together to help people reduce beverage calories in their diet. In working toward our voluntary goal to reduce beverage calories consumed per person nationally by 20 percent by 2025, our industry will continue to innovate and offer an even wider array of beverage choices, including more low- and no-calorie beverages, to help everyone achieve their daily balance.

Like all foods and beverages, it’s all about moderation. With the wide range of choices our member companies offer, there is something for everyone. And with our front-of-pack calorie labels on every can, bottle and pack, consumers have the calorie information they need right at their fingertips to help them consider the calories before choosing what best fits their day.