Two World Health Organization committees have determined that aspartame, a common food and beverage additive in diet or low-calorie products, may cause cancer, according to a report released Thursday by the WHO, reports NPR. The FDA disagrees citing its evidence of safety.
Despite The International Agency for Research on Cancer and the Joint Expert Committee on Food Additives both deciding to label the sweetener as a “possible carcinogen” as a result of “limited” evidence that it may cause liver cancer, the recommended limit on the daily intake from WHO remains unchanged.
"Our results do not indicate that occasional consumption should pose a risk to most consumers," said Dr. Francesco Branca, director of the Department of Nutrition and Food Safety at the WHO, during a press conference in Geneva. He shared that the only populations at risk are likely “high consumers” of foods that contain the ingredient.
The FDA, however, does not agree with the WHO’s classification. In a written statement to NPR, the Administration said that the WHO’s label of aspartame “as ‘possibly carcinogenic to humans’ does not mean that aspartame is actually linked to cancer.”
The research is ongoing. Scientists, like Dr. William Dahut, chief scientific officer at the American Cancer Society, said that research regarding how aspartame consumption affects people over time is lacking.
The Food Industry Association also commented on the WHO’s decision.
“Causal links between food additives and health are difficult to establish, particularly in observational studies. Amidst many current conversations around food, nutrients, science, and health, it is important to remain focused on empowering consumers to make healthy choices,” said Krystal Register, MS, RDN, LDN, and senior director for health and well-being at the FMI, in a statement. “We acknowledge our members across the food industry who continue to encourage balance, moderation, and variety in overall healthy patterns of eating and remain steadfast in reaching consumers with evidence-based nutrition messaging.” Full Story
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