KO - WHO cancer research arm to declare aspartame a possible carcinogen - report

2023-06-29 05:21:41 ET

Artificial sweetener aspartame, commonly used in diet sodas and low-calorie packaged food, is expected to be declared a possible carcinogen next month by the World Health Organization's cancer research arm, Reuters reported citing unnamed sources.

The International Agency for Research on Cancer's ruling, which was finalized earlier this month, was made based on all published evidence. However, it does not factor in how much of the product an individual can safely consume.

The Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives is also reviewing aspartame use and will announce its findings around the same time as the IARC on July 14, according to the report .

Since 1981, JECFA has maintained that aspartame is safe for consumption within accepted daily limits - 40 mg/kg of body weight/day. That means an adult weighing ~132 lbs would have to drink between 12 and 36 diet soda cans daily to be at risk.

The IARC ruling can have a major impact, as has been the case with earlier findings. It concluded in 2015 that the herbicide glyphosate is "probably carcinogenic", and companies are still feeling the effects of this.

However, IARC rulings have also faced criticism for needlessly causing alarm. It previously categorized eating red meat and working night shifts as "probably cancer-causing" based on limited evidence, while using mobile phones was labeled "possibly carcinogenic".

"IARC's review of aspartame is not scientifically comprehensive and is based heavily on widely discredited research," said Frances Hunt-Wood, secretary general, International Sweeteners Association.

Last month, the WHO recommended against the use of non-sugar sweeteners to control body weight.

Artificial sweetener makers include Japan's Ajinomoto Co ( OTCPK:AJINY ) ( OTCPK:AJINF ), Ingredion ( INGR ), and U.K. firm Tate & Lyle.

Relevant tickers: PepsiCo ( PEP ), Coca-Cola ( KO ), Mondelez ( MDLZ ), Britvic ( OTCQX:BTVCF ).

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