WHO says aspartame sweetener ‘possibly carcinogenic’, but safe in limited quantities
- Artificial sweetener consumed by millions every day as a sugar substitute has long been the topic of debate over its impact on health
- Two groups linked to the WHO declared aspartame a possible carcinogen, but it remains safe to consume at already-agreed levels
The WHO said on Friday it was now classifying aspartame, an artificial sweetener commonly used in soft drinks, as “possibly carcinogenic to humans” – though the acceptable daily intake level remains unchanged.
“We’re not advising companies to withdraw products, nor are we advising consumers to stop consuming altogether,” said Francesco Branca, the World Health Organization’s nutrition and food safety director.
“We’re just advising for a bit of moderation,” he told a press conference presenting the findings of two reviews of available evidence on aspartame.
The WHO’s International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) carried out its first-ever evaluation of the carcinogenicity of aspartame at a meeting in Lyon, France, from June 6 to 13.
“The working group classified aspartame as possibly carcinogenic to humans,” the WHO said.
It was placed in category Group 2B, based on the limited evidence available, which specifically concerned hepatocellular carcinoma – a type of liver cancer.
