The World Health Organization (WHO) on Friday formally labeled the artificial sweetener aspartame as a 'probable carcinogen'. Aspartame is an artificial sweetener that has been used as a sugar substitute in foods and beverages since the 1980s.
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It is commonly found in soft drinks, juices, ice cream, gelatin, yogurt, jams and jellies, and many other types of processed foods. Aspartame is made from two amino acids, aspartic acid, and phenylalanine, which occur naturally in the body. Despite its safety record, some concerns have been raised about the potential health risks of aspartame, such as an increased risk of cancer, headaches, and other neurological problems.
Now, an assessment of the health effects of the non-sugar
sweetener aspartame was released by the International Agency for Research on
Cancer (IARC) and the Joint Expert Committee on Food of the World Health
Organization (WHO), and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). Additives
(JECFA).
Citing "limited evidence" for carcinogenicity in
humans, the IARC classified aspartame as possibly carcinogenic to humans and
the JECFA affirmed an acceptable daily intake of 40 mg per kilogram of body
weight.
“Cancer is one of the leading causes of death globally. Each
year, 1 in 6 people die of cancer. In the hope of reducing these numbers and
the human toll, potential initiating or facilitating factors of cancer The
science to assess is constantly expanding." said Dr. Francesco Branca,
director of the WHO's Department of Nutrition and Food Security.
"Assessments for aspartame indicate that, at commonly
used doses, safety is not a major concern," Branca said but described
potential effects that should be investigated by more and better studies.
"
The two bodies conducted independent but complementary
reviews to assess the potential carcinogenic hazard and other health risks
associated with the consumption of aspartame. The IARC has classified
aspartame as possibly carcinogenic to humans based on limited evidence of
carcinogenicity in humans (specifically, hepatocellular carcinoma, which is a
type of liver cancer). There was limited evidence of carcinogenicity in
experimental animals and limited evidence concerning possible mechanisms of
cancer-causing, WHO said in a statement.
JECFA concluded that the assessed data did not indicate any
sufficient reason to change the previously established acceptable daily intake
(ADI) of 0-40 mg per kg body weight for aspartame. Therefore, the Committee
affirmed that It is safe for a person to consume within this limit per day.
"For example, with a can of diet soft drink containing
200 or 300 mg of aspartame, an adult weighing 70 kg would need to consume more
than 9-14 cans per day to exceed the acceptable daily intake, assuming that no
other intake will be made from other food sources," according to the WHO.
Dr. Mary Schubauer said, "The findings of the limited evidence of carcinogenicity in humans and animals and the limited mechanistic evidence on how carcinogenicity may occur underscore the need for further research to refine our understanding of how carcinogenicity may occur." Does consumption of aspartame pose a carcinogenic risk?" Berrigan of the IARC Monograph Program.
IARC and WHO will continue to monitor new evidence and
encourage independent research groups to develop further studies on the
possible association between aspartame exposure and consumer health effects.
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