WHO may declare aspartame as carcinogenic

One of the most widely used sweeteners by the food industry could be declared carcinogenic by international health organizations. Aspartame is being targeted by the World Health Organization (WHO), Reuters has learned, after a report from the Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) on the additive was leaked.

Aspartame is a non-caloric sweetener very common in sodas, chewing gum, jelly beans, fruit drinks, light yogurts and many other sweet products where sugar cannot be used directly. It is 150 to 200 times sweeter than regular sugar.

According to Reuters, which cites international agency sources, the "carcinogenic" label could be placed on aspartame in the next few weeks. The decision may be prompted by the findings of a recent study. Prior to this, the WHO had already advised against the use of aspartame for weight control as a result of a study on the product.

The IARC, an agency under the WHO, confirmed that it is studying the link between aspartame and its likelihood of having a carcinogenic effect in humans, but did not comment on the leaks reported by Reuters.

Contradictions among experts

The food industry has already issued some observations. Kate Loatman, executive director of the International Council of Beverages Associations said, "While it appears that IARC is now prepared to admit that aspartame poses no more danger to consumers than using aloe vera, public health authorities should be deeply concerned that this leaked opinion contradicts decades of high-quality scientific evidence and may unnecessarily mislead consumers into consuming more sugar instead of choosing safe sugar-free and low-sugar options."

The IARC issued a statement on Monday in which it made some comments about its research on aspartame. It assured that it is not the appropriate authority to assess the risks derived from the consumption of a product.