The World Health Organization’s cancer agency has named the sweetener aspartame – found in diet sodas and countless other foods – as a ‘possible’ cause of cancer, while a group of Separate experts reviewing the same evidence said they still consider the sugar substitute safe in a limited number of cases. quantities.
The various results of the coordinated reviews were released early Friday. One was from the International Agency for Research on Cancer, a special branch of the WHO. The other report came from a group of experts selected by the WHO and another United Nations group, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
The Lyon, France-based cancer agency periodically reviews potential cancer risks, but does not determine their likelihood of causing cancer in their ratings, which range from “probably” carcinogenic to “probably” carcinogenic.
Aspartame joins a category with over 300 other possible carcinogens, including things like aloe vera extract, Asian-style pickled vegetables, and carpentry work.
The advice on using the sweetener, however, does not change.
“We are not advising consumers to completely stop consuming (aspartame),” said WHO nutrition director Dr Francesco Branca. “We just advise a little moderation.”
Here’s a preview of the announcement:
WHAT IS ASPARTAME?
Aspartame is a low-calorie artificial sweetener that is about 200 times sweeter than sugar. It is a white, odorless powder and the most widely used artificial sweetener in the world.
Aspartame is authorized as a food additive in Europe and the United States and is used in many foods, drinks such as diet coke, desserts, chewing gum, medicines, including lozenges against cough and foods intended to aid in weight loss. It’s in table-top sweeteners sold like Equal, Sugar Twin, and NutraSweet.
Aspartame was approved in 1974 by the United States Food and Drug Administration with an acceptable daily intake 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 this level.
UN experts assessed the safety of aspartame in 1981 and set the daily safe limit slightly lower, at 40 milligrams of aspartame per kilogram.
David Spiegelhalter, professor emeritus of statistics at the University of Cambridge, said the guidelines mean “average people can drink up to 14 cans of diet drink a day…and even that ‘acceptable daily limit’ has a large built-in safety factor.”
WHAT DID THE TWO GROUPS SAY?
WHO’s cancer agency, IARC, convened its panel of experts in June to assess aspartame’s potential to cause cancer. He based his conclusion that aspartame is “probably carcinogenic” on human and animal studies that found “limited” evidence that the compound may be linked to liver cancer.
In a separate assessment, experts convened by the WHO and the food agency updated their risk assessment, including looking at the acceptable daily intake. They concluded that there was “no compelling evidence” at the levels currently consumed that aspartame is unsafe; their guidelines for acceptable levels of consumption remained unchanged.
The move comes weeks after the WHO said sugar-free sweeteners do not help with weight loss and could lead to an increased risk of diabetes, heart disease and premature death in adults.
SHOULD I BE CONCERNED ABOUT GETTING TOO MUCH?
Not until you exceed the guidelines. The FDA said scientific evidence continues to support the agency’s conclusion that aspartame is “safe for the general population” when used within certain limits.
Almost any substance can be dangerous in excessive amounts, said David Klurfeld, a nutrition expert at Indiana University School of Public Health-Bloomington.
“The dose makes the poison,” said Klurfeld, who previously served on an IARC panel. “Even essential nutrients like vitamin A, iron and water will kill you within hours if you consume too much of them.”
SO WHAT SHOULD CONSUMERS DO?
The WHO’s Branca said it was okay for people to consume a “fairly large” amount of aspartame without experiencing ill effects. “Heavy consumers” might want to cut back, he said.
Dr Peter Lurie, executive director of the Center for Science in the Public Interest, which previously proposed aspartame for review by the IARC, said there is an easy choice for consumers.
“At least when it comes to beverages, our message is that your best bet is to drink water or an unsweetened beverage,” he said.
Most people, however, probably don’t pay much attention to the IARC assessments. The agency has previously classified processed meat like hot dogs and bacon as carcinogenic, noting in particular its link to colon cancer. The move surprised even other members of the scientific community – Britain’s biggest cancer charity has reassured Britons that eating a bacon sandwich once in a while wouldn’t do them much harm.
WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR THE FOOD AND BEVERAGE INDUSTRY?
Food and beverage producers say there’s no reason to avoid products containing aspartame.
“There is broad consensus in the scientific and regulatory community that aspartame is safe,” the American Beverage Association said in a statement.
The WHO’s Branca said the agency advises food manufacturers in general “to use ingredients that don’t require the addition of too much sugar.” After the latest aspartame reviews, Branca said using sweeteners “probably isn’t the way to go.”
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The Associated Press Health and Science Department is supported by the Howard Hughes Medical Institute Science and Education Media Group. The AP is solely responsible for all content.