The World Health Organization (WHO) cancer research agency IARC classifies the sweetener aspartame as “possibly carcinogenic”. She saw limited evidence of a possible link to a specific form of liver cancer in three human studies.
Despite the new classification, the WHO is not changing its guidelines. She sees no indications in the studies that consumption within the recommended maximum values could be dangerous. According to the current state of knowledge, those who adhere to this do not expose themselves to a higher risk of cancer, reports the WHO.
Aspartame is common in soda, yogurt, and chewing gum. In the usual amounts, the sweetener should not be a problem. “The occasional soft drink or chewing gum: you shouldn’t worry about that for now,” said Francesco Branca, director of WHO’s division for nutrition and food safety.
“We recommend restraint”
“We don’t advise consumers to avoid sweeteners altogether, but we do advise caution.” If you’re unsure whether to buy soft drinks with sugar or sweeteners at the grocery store, it’s best to consider a third option, says Branca: “Drink water.” – or other drinks without sweeteners.
Lyon-based IARC published its findings on aspartame on Friday in the journal The Lancet Oncology. Important to know: The IARC experts only assess whether a substance can in principle cause cancer. However, they don’t take into account how much a person would have to consume to be at risk for disease, said Mary Schubauer-Berigan, who directs the IARC Monographs program responsible for classification.
The recommended maximum amount of aspartame is 40 milligrams per kilogram of body weight per day. The WHO calculates that a person weighing 70 kilograms would only reach the limit if he or she drank nine to fourteen cans of conventional diet drinks with a high aspartame content in one day.
The evidence is limited according to IARC
The IARC experts found three of hundreds of human cancer studies that looked at the effects of artificial sweeteners. They also reviewed studies in mice and rats. However, all the studies showed certain shortcomings for assessing aspartame, they admitted. That is why IARC emphasizes that the evidence is limited.
Source: Krone
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