Artificial Sweetener Aspartame Causes Cancer? Conflicting Reports from WHO Groups Recommend How Much Is Safe to Consume

On Thursday, a research group associated with the World Health Organization (WHO) stated that the artificial sweetener aspartame may be a cause of cancer, while another group connected to WHO affirmed its safety when consumed within recommended levels.

These contradictory reports were released by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), which is WHO's cancer research agency, and the Joint Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA), comprised of WHO and U.N. scientists responsible for providing consumption recommendations.

Link Between Aspartame and Cancer

According to the American Cancer Society, aspartame is an artificial sweetener that has been in use in the United States since the early 1980s. It is widely utilized in various foods and beverages due to its intense sweetness compared to sugar, allowing for smaller quantities to be used to achieve the desired level of sweetness.

The applications of aspartame encompass its use as a tabletop sweetener, an additive in prepared foods and beverages, and as a flavoring agent in select medications, chewing gums, and toothpaste. However, concerns regarding the potential health risks of aspartame, including its association with cancer, have emerged over the years.

One source of worry regarding cancer stems from studies conducted on laboratory rats, published by an Italian research group in the late 2000s, which indicated a possible increase in the risk of certain blood-related cancers and other types of cancer due to aspartame consumption. Nonetheless, these studies had limitations that hindered a clear interpretation of their results.

How Much Aspartame Should Be Used?

The Hill reported that WHO's cancer research agency, the IARC, categorized aspartame as "possibly carcinogenic" based on limited evidence from three studies linking it to hepatocellular carcinoma, a type of liver cancer.

In contrast, the WHO's food safety group, the JECFA, found no convincing evidence of adverse effects and maintained the previously established acceptable daily intake of aspartame.

The IARC's classification of aspartame places it among 322 agents, including various substances like engine exhaust and nickel, some of which have no clear association with cancer. The JECFA's evaluation, on the other hand, concludes that occasional consumption within recommended limits is unlikely to pose any risk.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA), along with other public health agencies, has consistently affirmed the safety of aspartame, highlighting its extensive studies and support for good manufacturing practices.

The differing roles of the two agencies contribute to the contrasting assessments. The IARC focuses on the scientific evidence of cancer hazards, while the JECFA conducts a comprehensive risk assessment to determine the likelihood of harm.

Furthermore, the latter previously established acceptable daily intake (ADI) of aspartame at 0-40 mg/kg body weight per day. Based on this assessment, JECFA reaffirmed that consuming aspartame within this limit is considered safe.

To put it into perspective, a typical can of diet soft drink containing around 200-300 mg of aspartame would not exceed the acceptable daily intake for an average adult weighing 70 kg. To surpass the ADI, one would need to consume more than 9-14 cans of diet soft drinks per day, assuming no additional aspartame intake from other food sources.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services expressed concerns to the WHO, highlighting the comprehensive nature of JECFA's assessment and cautioning against an incomplete evaluation and potential consumer confusion resulting from relying solely on publicly available data as done by the IARC.

The FDA, through its website, reiterates the extensive studies supporting the safety of aspartame when produced under appropriate conditions of use.

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