World Health Organization Agency Declares Aspartame as Possible Cancer Risk
New York, NY – In a groundbreaking move, a World Health Organization (WHO) agency has declared that aspartame, an artificial sweetener used widely in diet drinks and low-sugar foods, could potentially cause cancer. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (I.A.R.C.), a part of WHO, based its conclusion on limited evidence from three observational studies that showed a link between the consumption of artificially sweetened beverages and an increase in cases of liver cancer. However, a second WHO committee maintained that aspartame consumption within safe levels poses no risk of cancer.
The announcement by the I.A.R.C. marks the first time that a prominent international body has publicly addressed the potential cancer-causing effects of aspartame. Aspartame has been a topic of controversy for many years. The WHO recommendation advises individuals who consume high amounts of aspartame to consider switching to water or other unsweetened beverages. However, the agency also emphasized that occasional consumption of aspartame does not pose a significant risk to most individuals.
The safety and regulation of artificial sweeteners have been heavily scrutinized in recent years due to concerns about rising rates of obesity and diabetes. Aspartame, one of six sweeteners approved by U.S. regulators, can be found in thousands of products, including diet sodas, teas, energy drinks, yogurts, and pharmaceuticals.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved aspartame for use decades ago and continues to maintain that it is safe for consumption. In response to the WHO agency’s findings, the FDA issued a statement expressing disagreement and emphasized that the classification of “possibly carcinogenic to humans” does not definitively link aspartame to cancer. The FDA’s stance has ignited a debate and is expected to prompt further review in the United States and Europe. The conflicting statements from the global agencies are likely to cause confusion among consumers.
The beverage industry has been fighting against regulatory or scientific findings that suggest a link between artificial sweeteners and health risks for many years. Kevin Keane, interim president of the American Beverage Association, asserts that aspartame is safe, citing the concurrent review by another WHO panel that left its recommended daily intake amount unchanged and concluded that the evidence for cancer in humans is “not convincing.” The American Beverage Association represents major companies such as Coca-Cola and PepsiCo.
The dispute over aspartame’s safety revolves around rodent studies conducted between 2005 and 2010 that suggested a link to cancer. However, the FDA has dismissed these studies as “compromised.” Dr. William Dahut, chief scientific officer of the American Cancer Society, has urged caution and suggests further research is needed. He emphasizes that reducing the risk of cancer is more definitively achieved through avoiding tobacco, alcohol, processed meat, and excess body weight.
The WHO’s cancer agency has four categories for classifying substances: carcinogenic, probably carcinogenic, possibly carcinogenic, and no classification. The agencies stress that these classifications reflect the strength of the science behind them rather than the likelihood of causing cancer.
This announcement by the WHO agency will likely reignite the discussions surrounding the safety of artificial sweeteners and prompt further research into the long-term effects. While the WHO advises caution for those who consume high amounts of aspartame, it reiterates that occasional consumption poses minimal risk to most individuals.