Aspartame, a controversial sweetener, is “possibly” carcinogenic to humans, the WHO said on Friday, announcing that further studies are needed “to further clarify the situation”.
The WHO now considers aspartame, an artificial sweetener used in particular in sodas, to be “possibly” carcinogenic to humans, but the daily dose considered to be safe remains unchanged, she indicated. Friday.
“We are not advising companies to withdraw their products, nor are we advising consumers to completely stop their consumption,” said Dr Francesco Branca, Director of the Department of Nutrition, Health and Development at WHO, during the the presentation of two evaluations.
Further studies are needed
The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) of the World Health Organization (WHO) has for the first time assessed the level of danger of aspartame. Meeting from June 6 to 13, these experts concluded that the sweetener “was possibly carcinogenic to humans” (group 2B of the classification).
The decision to place aspartame in this group was made based on “limited indications” for cancer in humans, specifically, for hepatocellular carcinoma, which is a type of liver cancer, according to the WHO. .
Limited evidence has also been observed for cancer in laboratory animals. According to Dr. Branca, further studies are needed “to further clarify the situation”.
No change in the recommended daily dose
The Joint Committee of Experts on Food Additives of WHO and FAO (UN Food and Agriculture Agency) met from June 27 to July 6 to assess the risks associated with with aspartame.
It concluded that the data assessed did not provide sufficient grounds for changing the acceptable daily intake established since 1981 to a maximum of 40 mg per kilogram of body weight and therefore a person can consume aspartame “safely”. within the limit of this daily quantity.
With a can of “light” soft drink containing 200 or 300 mg of this sweetener, an adult weighing 70 kg would have to consume more than 9 to 14 cans per day to exceed the acceptable daily intake, assuming no other aspartame intake from other food sources
Aspartame is incorporated into low-calorie beverages such as diet sodas, ready meals, chewing gum, gelatin, ice cream and breakfast cereals, as well as medications, such as as cough drops, and other products such as toothpaste.