WHO Director General
WHO to announce sweeteners in coke ‘possibly carcinogenic’. According to Reuters, citing exclusive sources, aspartame, one of the world’s most extensively used artificial sweeteners, is set to be designated as a potential carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer, the World Health Organization’s cancer research arm.
In its future decision, the IARC, which examines the potential risks of substances based on published evidence, will classify aspartame as “possibly carcinogenic to humans” for the first time.
The sweetener, which is used in popular items such as diet soda and chewing gum, is pitted against the food sector and authorities in this ruling.
The sweetener, which is used in popular items such as diet soda and chewing gum, is pitted against the food sector and authorities in this ruling.
The decision, which is expected to be announced in July, has concerned the food sector and authorities.
The IARC classification does not consider safe consumption levels, which are decided by a separate expert committee on food additives called the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives, or JECFA.
Concerns have been expressed about potential public confusion caused by the simultaneous examination processes of aspartame’s safety.
National authorities, including those in the United States and Europe, have already recommended the safe use of aspartame within established daily limits based on JECFA’s analyses since 1981.
Previous IARC verdicts on various chemicals have had a significant influence, resulting in consumer concerns, legal action, and recipe changes. However, the agency’s assessments have been chastised for producing undue concern or confusion.
The International Agency for Research on Cancer classifies compounds into four categories based on the strength of the evidence rather than the level of danger they pose: carcinogenic, probably carcinogenic, perhaps carcinogenic, and not classifiable.
The first group, according to IARC, comprises of compounds with solid evidence that they cause cancer, ranging from processed beef to asbestos.
Working overnight and consuming red meat fall into the “probable” category, which denotes that there is only weak evidence that these things can cause cancer in people but stronger evidence that they can cause cancer in animals or that they share traits with other human carcinogens.
Mobile phone “radiofrequency electromagnetic fields” are “possibly cancer-causing.” Like aspartame, this means there is either limited evidence they can cause cancer in humans, sufficient evidence in animals, or strong evidence about the characteristics.
“IARC is not a food safety body, and their review of aspartame is not scientifically comprehensive and is heavily based on widely discredited research,” International Sweeteners Association secretary general Frances Hunt-Wood stated.
The group, which includes Mars Wrigley, a Coca-Cola subsidiary, and Cargill, stated that it had “serious concerns with the IARC review, which may mislead consumers.”
Kate Loatman, executive director of the International Council of Beverage Associations, said the “leaked opinion” should be “deeply concerned” by public health authorities, and that it “could needlessly mislead consumers into consuming more sugar rather than choosing safe no- and low-sugar options.”
Aspartame has been the focus of extensive research for many years. An observational study involving 100,000 adults in France last year found a small increase in cancer risk among those who ingested more artificial sweeteners, including aspartame.
The IARC’s categorization of aspartame as a probable carcinogen is expected to inspire further research and assist stakeholders in making more informed decisions. However, it is likely to reignite debates about the IARC’s role and the general safety of sweeteners.
The food industry claims that these sugar replacements can help customers reduce their sugar intake and is outraged by the WHO’s recent advice against using them for weight control.