In a recent report, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has classified aspartame, an artificial sweetener used in numerous food and beverage products, as a “possible” cause of cancer. However, a panel of experts has emphasised that aspartame is safe when consumed in limited quantities.
The WHO’s International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) designated aspartame as “possibly carcinogenic to humans.” It is important to note that the IARC has two more severe categories for substances that are “probably carcinogenic to humans” and “carcinogenic to humans.”
The Food and Agricultural Organisation’s Joint Expert Committee on Food Additives, which conducted a complementary study, reaffirmed its advice that aspartame is safe for consumption within specific limits. They stated that a person can safely consume 0-40mg of aspartame per kilogram of body weight each day.
To exceed the daily guideline, a person weighing 70kg would need to consume more than approximately nine to 14 cans of diet soft drinks per day, according to the WHO.
Dr Francesco Branca, the director of the WHO’s Department of Nutrition and food safety, clarified that the organization is not advising consumers to completely avoid aspartame but rather to consume it in moderation. He emphasized the importance of investigating potential effects associated with aspartame through further studies.
Aspartame has been widely used as an artificial sweetener since the 1980s and is found in various products such as diet drinks, chewing gum, ice cream, yoghurt, breakfast cereal, toothpaste, and medications like cough drops and chewable vitamins.
Both studies cited “limited evidence” and called for additional research on the subject. The WHO and the IARC have committed to monitoring evidence and encouraging independent research groups.
Harriet Burt, senior policy and international projects officer for World Action on Salt, Sugar & Health at Queen Mary University of London, commented on the report, emphasising the need for a new approach by food and drink manufacturers. She stated that reducing the overall sweetness of products should be prioritised over excessive reliance on sweeteners. Burt highlighted the importance of gradually reformulating products to reduce excess sugars, salt, and saturated fat, ultimately improving overall health without the need for replacement ingredients like non-sugar sweeteners.
Burt further emphasised the urgency for the UK government to develop a comprehensive strategy to reduce sugar and overall product sweetness, including the use of non-sugar sweeteners like aspartame, in alignment with recent WHO reports.
