The World Health Organization’s cancer agency has classified the sweetener aspartame, which is commonly found in diet soda and many other foods, as a “possible” cause of cancer. However, another group of experts selected by WHO and the Food and Agriculture Organization still considers aspartame safe to consume in limited quantities.
The two reports with differing results were released early Friday. The International Agency for Research on Cancer, a branch of WHO, conducted one review. The other report came from an expert panel assembled by WHO and another U.N. group, the Food and Agriculture Organization.
Based in Lyon, France, the cancer agency periodically examines potential cancer hazards. It doesn’t determine the likelihood of these hazards causing cancer, but it categorizes them as “possibly” carcinogenic, “probably” carcinogenic, or cancer-causing.
Aspartame now joins a list of over 300 other potential cancer-causing agents, which includes aloe vera extract, Asian-style pickled vegetables, and carpentry work.
Despite the classification, there are no changes to the guidance on the use of aspartame.
“We’re not advising consumers to stop consuming (aspartame) altogether,” said Dr. Francesco Branca, the nutrition director of WHO. “We’re just advising a bit of moderation.”
Here’s a breakdown of the announcement:
WHAT IS ASPARTAME?
Aspartame is an artificial sweetener that is approximately 200 times sweeter than sugar. It is a low-calorie white powder and the most widely used artificial sweetener in the world.
Aspartame is authorized as a food additive in Europe and the U.S. and is found in numerous foods and drinks, including diet soda, desserts, chewing gum, cough drops, weight-loss products, and tabletop sweeteners such as Equal, Sugar Twin, and NutraSweet.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved aspartame in 1974, with an acceptable daily intake limit of 50 milligrams per kilogram of body weight. According to the FDA, a person weighing 132 pounds (60 kilograms) would need to consume about 75 packets of aspartame to reach that limit.
In 1981, U.N. experts evaluated the safety of aspartame and set the safe daily limit slightly lower, at 40 milligrams per kilogram of body weight.
Regarding the recent guidance, David Spiegelhalter, an emeritus statistics professor at Cambridge University, stated that “average people are safe to drink up to 14 cans of diet drink a day…and even this ‘acceptable daily limit’ has a large built-in safety factor.”
WHAT DID THE TWO GROUPS SAY?
The cancer agency IARC, part of WHO, conducted a review and concluded that aspartame is “possibly carcinogenic” based on human and animal studies that found limited evidence of a link to liver cancer.
Meanwhile, the expert panel assembled by WHO and the food agency updated their risk assessment and reviewed the acceptable daily intake. They concluded that there is “no convincing evidence” that aspartame is dangerous at current consumption levels, and therefore, the guidelines regarding acceptable levels of consumption remain unchanged.
The release of these reports comes after WHO recently stated that non-sugar sweeteners do not aid in weight loss and could potentially increase the risk of diabetes, heart disease, and premature death in adults.
SHOULD I BE CONCERNED ABOUT CONSUMING TOO MUCH ASPARTAME?
The FDA states that as long as you don’t exceed the guidelines, there is no cause for concern. Scientific evidence continues to support the conclusion that aspartame is safe for the general population when used within limits.
David Klurfeld, a nutrition expert at the Indiana University School of Public Health-Bloomington, explains that almost any substance can be dangerous when consumed in excessive amounts. He mentions that even essential nutrients such as vitamin A, iron, and water can be lethal if consumed in large quantities.
SO WHAT SHOULD CONSUMERS DO?
Dr. Branca from WHO suggests that it is acceptable for people to consume a “pretty large” amount of aspartame without suffering any adverse effects. However, he advises high consumers to consider cutting back.
Dr. Peter Lurie, executive director of the Center for Science in the Public Interest, suggests that the best choice for beverages is to drink water or unsweetened options.
While most people might not pay much attention to IARC evaluations, it is worth noting that the agency previously classified processed meats like hot dogs and bacon as cancer-causing. However, the scientific community, including the U.K.’s biggest cancer charity, reassured the public that occasional consumption of bacon sandwiches wouldn’t cause significant harm.
WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR THE FOOD AND BEVERAGE INDUSTRY?
Food and beverage producers see no reason for consumers to avoid products containing aspartame.
The American Beverage Association stated, “There is a broad consensus in the scientific and regulatory community that aspartame is safe.”
Dr. Branca from WHO advises food manufacturers to use ingredients that don’t require excessive amounts of sugar. Following the reassessment of aspartame, he believes that using sweeteners may not be the best approach.
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