WHO declares aspartame, sweetener used in diet sodas, as possible carcinogen
Aspartame is an artificial (chemical) sweetener widely used in various food and beverage products since the 1980s. Photo: Unsplash
In a groundbreaking announcement today (July 14), World Health Organization (WHO) stated that aspartame, a widely used artificial sweetener present in numerous items such as diet beverages and sugar-free chewing gum, should be classified as "potentially cancer-causing to humans".
What
Today, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), the World Health Organization (WHO), and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Joint Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) have published their evaluations regarding the health effects of the artificial sweetener aspartame.
Aspartame is an artificial (chemical) sweetener widely used in various food and beverage products since the 1980s, including diet drinks, chewing gum, gelatin, ice cream, dairy products such as yogurt, breakfast cereal, toothpaste and medications such as cough drops and chewable vitamins.
According to this report, IARC classified aspartame as "possibly carcinogenic to humans".
But, here's the catch.
Even though it sounds so alarming, JECFA also concluded that the data evaluated indicated "no sufficient reason to change the previously established acceptable daily intake" of Aspartame because of the 'limited evidence'. (Sounds bizarre, right?)
As reported by CNN, again the science behind is by no means conclusive, like it is for a substance like asbestos or tobacco.
[READ MORE: Coca-Cola stocks nosedive after report says WHO set to identify Aspartame sweetener as possible carcinogen]
What is the 'safe intake?'
After examining the available data, the committee has determined that there is no significant basis to modify the previously established acceptable daily intake range of 0-40 mg/kg body weight for aspartame. Therefore, they have reiterated that it is safe for individuals to consume aspartame within this established limit on a daily basis.
For instance, an adult weighing 70 kg would need to consume over 9-14 cans of diet soda, each containing 200 or 300 mg of aspartame, in order to surpass the acceptable daily intake (assuming that no additional intake of aspartame from other food sources).
Aspartame: The controversial substance
- Aspartame is one of the most studied substances over the years.
- Weirdly enough, since 1981, JECFA has consistently said that aspartame is safe for consumption within the established daily intake limits.
- This perspective has been widely endorsed by national regulatory bodies, including those in the United States and Europe.
- Pepsico, the soft drink giant, removed aspartame from its sodas in 2015, bringing it back a year later, and went on to remove it again in 2020.
The bottom line is the study's conclusion doesn't seem quite clear enough.
Can cause harm to sales
The study, might, however, cause harm to multiple million-dollar companies like Coca-Cola or Pepsi which sell diet sodas. Previously, when Reuters released a report stating that this study is set to release in July 14, Pepsi and Coca-cola stocks took a nosedive.