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World Health Organization to declare aspartame, the sweetener in Diet Coke, a possible carcinogen
BYCHRIS MORRIS AND ELEANOR PRINGLE
June 29, 2023 at 10:52 PM GMT+8
Aspartame is found in many food and beverage products, including Diet Coke.
JAKUB PORZYCKI—NURPHOTO/GETTY IMAGES
Aspartame, one of the world’s most popular artificial sweeteners, is expected to be labeled a possible carcinogen by the cancer research arm of the World Health Organization (WHO), a move that could shake the food and beverage industry to its core.
“[The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC)] has assessed the potential carcinogenic effect of aspartame,” the WHO said in a statement to Fortune. “Following this, the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) will update its risk assessment exercise on aspartame, including the reviewing of the acceptable daily intake and dietary exposure assessment for aspartame.”
The results of both evaluations will be released simultaneously on July 14.
Aspartame is used in common drinks and foods from Diet Coke to sugarless chewing gum to Dannon Activia yogurt. It’s also used in cough drops and some toothpaste. The WHO label indicates there is limited evidence linking aspartame to cancer. It is the lowest of three categories, with “probable carcinogen” (such as the herbicide glyphosate) and “carcinogenic to humans” (i.e., to***co smoking and asbestos) the next possible steps.
The ruling from the IARC will reportedly not factor how much aspartame a person can safely consume. That advice will be determined by the JECFA.