On July 14, 2023, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) and the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA), both subdivisions of the World Health Organization (WHO), declared aspartame a "potentially cancer-causing" food additive. Aspartame is commonly used in diet beverages such as Diet Coke and sugar-free chewing gums like Extra Gum.
Many organizations including FDA vehemently disagreed with this announcement. The FDA contradicted these findings by defending their position that aspartame consumed within regulated limits or Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI) is safe and its harmful effects are yet to be substantiated. They also highlighted similar views held by Health Canada and European Food Safety Authority favoring the safety of consuming acceptable quantities of aspartame.
Artificial sweeteners have been subject to debate regarding their safety due to varied research outcomes. According to Frontiers in Nutrition several studies propose that artificial sweeteners help decrease calorie intake while others negate this effect or even associate it with an increased prevalence of obesity[link]. The disputable nature of synthetic ingredients necessitates additional research particularly over long-term consumption effects. Evidently, WHO intends to label Aspartam sold under commercial names Equal and NutraSweet "possible human carcinogen".
Items containing Aspartam include Diet Coke, Trident gum, certain varieties of Snapple tea posing potential health risks due to iterated possible links between product-usage & cancer triggering significant concern amidst customers& companies alike causing inevitable confusion interlaced with conflicting opinions from all quarters.
Next month's announcements are likely to witness participation from the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), WHO's cancer research arm making crucial decisions, and Reuters reporting their findings. IARC mainly focuses on scrutinized evidence concerning a certain substance's hazardous nature.
On the contrary, determining safe consumption levels is left to another subdivision of WHO i.e., Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA)- an independent entity collaborating with WHO & Food and Agriculture Organization.
With both these groups announcing simultaneous statements regarding aspartame by July 14, 2023 increased concerns have arisen about causing unnecessary panic amidst consumers. Industry spokesperson Frances Hunt-Wood considers this review non-comprehensive& heavily reliant upon refuted studies while Kate Loatman fears potential consumer misguidance leaning towards higher sugar-intake due to scare over zero or low sugar alternatives.
Melissa Rifkin acknowledged that data supports adverse effects of regular artificial sweeteners consumption though abundant environmental factors also contribute towards deteriorating health conditions. She believes we're excessively exposed to harmful entities such as cell phones radiation, ambient air quality causing equivalent harm besides potentially carcinogenic compounds like Aspartame
As per expert concerns, whether JECFA shall revise its stance following carcinogenic linkage of Aspartam hasn't been clarified yet since it deems acceptable daily high intake limits since 1980's The Guardian.
Categorically speaking there exist four classes accordingReuter's report: Carcinogens(certain), Probable, Possible and unclassifiable. With aspartam falling under "possibly carcinogenic", it can be interpreted that evidence remains insufficient.
Recently nutritionist Lisa Young sided with the school of thought promoting moderation in using artificial sweeteners for perceived benefits notwithstanding their zero-calorie image indicating healthy diet strategy focusing on portion size control over calorie content.
Conclusively attempting to minimize intake of potentially harmful substances is recommended though thorough avoidance might seem excessive suggests Rifkin. It's important to prioritize whole minimally processed foods while occasional indulgence in food products containing aspartame isn't inherently harmful.
Common Food and Beverage Products with Aspartame
This particular sweetening agent is a component found in many of the food items and beverages you consume regularly, notably those that claim to be "diet" or utterly absent of sugar. Packets of products like Equal or NutraSweet usually contain aspartame too. Regardless if your goal is to elude it completely or just knowing its presence in what you eat, here are some frequently-consumed items hosting this sweetening substance:
- Diet Coke
- Coke Zero
- Sprite Zero
- Crystal Light
- Fanta Zero
- Sugarless Jell-O
- Trident Gum
- Extra Gum
- Mrs. Butterworth's Non-Sugar Syrup
- NutraSweet
- Equal
- Sugar Twin
