Aspartame, a sweet substance used as an artificial sweetener in low-calorie products, is reportedly going to be added to a list of potential human carcinogens by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). The organization, which has been under investigation for over 40 years, uses a four-tiered approach to categorize foods according to their potential to cause cancer in people: carcinogenic to humans, definitely carcinogenic to humans, maybe carcinogenic to humans, and not classifiable. The Joint WHO and Food and Agriculture Organisation Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) are examining aspartame while IARC prepares its judgment on the substance.
The food and beverage sector has reacted to the impending change after a year of increased scrutiny of both natural and artificial sweeteners. A customer would need to consume between 12-36 cans of diet soda per day to be at risk, according to JECFA’s own study. Individuals who may take aspartame as part of a workout supplement would have to ingest far more of it overall, according to Fabricant. The Joint WHO and Food and Agriculture Organisation Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) are examining aspartame while IARC prepares its judgment on the substance.
The American Beverage Association and the Calorie Control Council, both trade associations, disagreed with the decision, noting the lack of scientific evidence for aspartame’s safety and the fact that it has been the subject of extensive investigation since the early 1980s. Robert Rankin, the president of the Calorie Control Council, stated that his organization is gravely concerned about any unsupported and false claims that contradict decades of science and international regulatory approvals.
IARC is not a regulatory agency, ingredient expert, or food safety authority. The American Beverage Association cited a letter from the FDA to WHO stating that it is “better suited to assess any risk associated with aspartame.” The ABA expressed confidence in the security of their goods, as the FDA and other food safety organizations worldwide continue to deem aspartame safe.