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The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), a division of the World Health Organization (WHO), has announced that the commonly used sweetener aspartame is a potential carcinogen capable of causing cancer. This sugar substitute is found in numerous products, including diet beverages, dairy products (such as yogurts and ice creams), dry breakfast cereals, chewing gums, and even toothpaste, medications, and vitamins.
The IARC classifies substances into four categories for carcinogenicity: carcinogenic, probably carcinogenic, possibly carcinogenic, and not classifiable.
However, not everyone agrees with the conclusions of the WHO. Currently, there is still insufficient evidence to definitively link, for example, diet cola consumption to cancer.
What is Aspartame?
Aspartame is one of the most commonly used artificial sweeteners in the world. It has been on the market for decades. The sweetener is found in approximately 6,000 products, according to the Calorie Control Council.
Compared to regular table sugar, aspartame is approximately 200 times sweeter. It’s used for weight reduction and is considered safe for children and breastfeeding mothers, and for individuals with diabetes.
Controversy Surrounding the WHO Agency’s Conclusions
In contrast, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) “disagrees with IARC’s conclusion that these studies support classifying aspartame as a possible carcinogen to humans.”
Aspartame is one of the most studied food additives in the human food supply. FDA scientists do not have safety concerns when aspartame is used under the approved conditions.
FDA statement
Kevin Keane, the interim CEO of the American Beverage Association, echoed the FDA’s stance, as reported by The New York Times. He stated that the sweetener is safe and the evidence of cancer presence is “not convincing.”
The controversy surrounding aspartame originated from the Ramazzini Institute in Italy. They have discovered some evidence of cancer in laboratory animals in the mid-2000s. However, due to concerns about the methods and interpretations of the group, the findings were considered limited. In 2021, the Ramazzini Institute itself stated that their work on aspartame has been confirmed. The researchers claimed that their previous conclusions were “savagely attacked by the chemical manufacturing and processed food industries and by their allies in regulatory agencies.”
Arguments from the WHO
To review aspartame, the IARC gathered 25 cancer experts from 12 countries in Lyon, France, to conduct an assessment of the available research. The agency confirmed the limited evidence of cancer in humans based on three studies. These studies link artificially sweetened beverages to an increased risk of hepatocellular carcinoma, the most common type of liver cancer.
It was cautioned that the results could potentially be biased towards the individuals consuming a higher quantity of diet beverages. Therefore, the agency called for further research.
Our results do not indicate that occasional consumption should pose a risk to most. Still, people who consume high amounts of aspartame should consider switching to water or other unsweetened drinks.
Francesco Branca, director of the WHO Department of Nutrition and Food Safety
