Cancer warning: Diet Coke ingredient increases risk of illness, says WHO
The announcement from the World Health Organization is expected to raise concerns regarding a widely used additive found in beverages like Diet Coke, as it may potentially carry a risk of cancer.
Starting next month, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) of the World Health Organization (WHO) will categorize aspartame as "potentially cancer-causing for humans".
As a component of the report, a team of independent specialists examined and evaluated if the products had the potential to pose any dangers.
Nevertheless, the IARC's choices have been criticized for causing unnecessary panic previously.
Starting next month, the WHO's findings will result in the classification of aspartame as 'potentially cancer-causing to humans.'
In the past, it classified working during the night and eating red meat as being likely to cause cancer, while considering mobile phone usage as potentially cancer-causing, much like the way aspartame is.
The article fails to take into account the acceptable amount of aspartame that an individual can ingest without any harm.
This guidance is provided by a distinct organization called JECFA, an expert committee on food additives that is managed jointly by the UN's Food and Agriculture Organisation and the World Health Organization.
Based on JECFA's evaluation, it is considered safe to consume aspartame within the recommended daily allowances. To be at risk, an adult weighing 9st would have to drink anywhere from 12 to 36 cans of diet soda daily, depending on the level of aspartame present in each beverage.
The ISA, comprised of prominent companies such as Mars Wrigley, Coca-Cola, and Pepsico, expressed their apprehensions regarding the IARC evaluation, stating that it has the potential to deceive consumers.
According to Frances Hunt-Wood, the head of the ISA, the evaluation conducted by IARC on aspartame is lacking scientific thoroughness and relies heavily on research that has been widely discredited. However, it should be noted that IARC is not an authority on food safety.
JECFA is scheduled to release its conclusions on the exact day that the IARC reveals its verdict on July 14.
The emergence of two distinct reports has raised worries among both industry professionals and regulators, as there is a potential for public confusion.
The International Sweeteners Association (ISA), consisting of companies like Mars Wrigley, Coca-Cola, and Pepsico, expressed significant apprehension regarding the IARC assessment. They believe that this review could potentially confuse consumers.
“We respectfully request that both organizations collaborate in evaluating aspartame to prevent any misunderstandings or worries among the general population,” Nozomi Tomita, a representative from the ministry of health in Japan, stated in a communication addressed to Zsuzsanna Jakab, the deputy director general of the World Health Organization (WHO).
Aspartame has been extensively researched for many years, and a recent study conducted in France involving 100,000 adults revealed that individuals who consumed higher quantities of artificial sweeteners, such as aspartame, had a marginally elevated risk of developing cancer.
Regulators worldwide have granted approval for the use of Aspartame after carefully analyzing all the existing evidence, and prominent companies in the food and beverage industry have stood up in support of its inclusion as an ingredient.
