The European Food Safety Authority announced Friday a review of evidence on aspartame use found no increased cancer risks.

The agency’s statement contradicted the findings of a recent study by the European Ramazzini Foundation, which alleged an increased risk of leukemia and lymphoma with the low-calorie sweetener.

The design and execution of the Ramazzini study did not follow guidelines set up by the National Toxicology Program, the U.S. government toxicology initiative, the EFSA said.

The EFSA findings support a recent epidemiology study from the National Cancer Institute which found no link between aspartame consumption and leukemias, lymphomas and brain tumors.

Three recent cancer studies conducted by the National Toxicology Program — designed to evaluate whether aspartame is capable of causing cancer — were published in October 2005. Aspartame was fed to mice bred to be especially sensitive to cancer-causing agents, and researchers concluded there was no evidence of carcinogenic activity (cancer) of aspartame.

The U.S. Food & Drug Administration also supports the fimding that aspartame is a safe low-calorie sweetener.