Aspartame, a widely used non-nutritive sweetener, is a popular ingredient in various industries, including food and beverage. It is about 200 times sweeter than table sugar and is added to products like Diet Coke, Fanta, and Mars Extra chewing gum to reduce their sugar content. The World Health Organization (WHO) has conducted a thorough assessment of the safety of consuming aspartame in real-life scenarios. The results of their investigation were released on July 14.
The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has classified aspartame as ‘possibly carcinogenic’ based on limited evidence of cancer in humans, specifically liver cancer. The IARC reviewed three high-quality studies that examined the consumption of aspartame-sweetened beverages and found a positive association with liver cancers. However, they acknowledged that chance, bias, and confounding factors could not be ruled out, leading to their conclusion of limited evidence.
On the other hand, the Joint Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) found no convincing evidence that aspartame causes harm when consumed within the existing daily intake guidelines. They considered evidence from both animal and human studies and concluded that the association between aspartame consumption and cancer risk is not convincing. JECFA’s findings suggest that industry should not expect any changes to acceptable maximum intake levels of aspartame.
Despite the IARC’s classification, it’s important to note that they are not a food safety body, and their review is less comprehensive compared to those conducted by food safety organizations. The FDA in the US has disagreed with the IARC’s conclusion, pointing out significant flaws in the studies upon which the classification was based. Similarly, the International Sweeteners Association (ISA) highlights that aspartame’s 2B classification puts it in the same category as kimchi, and IARC does not discourage the use of kimchi.
The WHO reaffirms that aspartame is safe for consumption within existing daily intake guidelines. The acceptable maximum intake is 40mg per kilogram of body weight. However, the WHO advises against using non-sugar sweeteners, including aspartame, for weight control. A systematic review concluded that these sweeteners do not offer long-term benefits in reducing body fat and may have potential undesirable effects. The WHO suggests considering alternatives that do not contain sugars or sweeteners, and limiting the consumption of sweetened products altogether.
While consumer organizations like Foodwatch agree with the WHO’s recommendation, the low-calorie food and beverage industry represented by the Calorie Control Council argues that aspartame is safe and important for individuals managing their body weight and diabetes. The ISA also believes that when used as part of a balanced diet, low/no calorie sweeteners like aspartame can contribute to public health objectives related to sugar intake reduction and assist in weight and diabetes management.
Overall, the findings regarding aspartame’s safety and its use for weight control are still subject to varying opinions.
