As per recent tests, traces of the artificial sweetener Aspartame have been found in diet cola. The sweetener has been linked with carcinogenic elements, those which can cause cancer
International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), which is the cancer research arm of the World Health Organization (WHO), will list this sweetener in July as “possibly carcinogenic to humans” for the first time
From diet sodas to chewing gum, Aspartame is being used as a sweetener in many beverages and food. World Health Organization (WHO)’s cancer research arm the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) is set to declare Aspartame as “possibly carcinogenic to humans” for the first time
Aspartame is an artificial non-saccharide sweetener, 200 times sweeter than sucrose. A study, conducted in France, among 100,000 adults, showed that people who consumed larger amounts of artificial sweeteners – including aspartame – had a slightly higher cancer risk
- Diet soda
- Sugar-free soda
- Low-sugar juices
- Sugar-free puddings and desserts
- Sugar-free jams
- Artificially sweetened gum
- Cereals
- Low-calorie coffee sweeteners
In a 1981 report, JECFA said that an adult weighing 60kg (132 pounds) would have to drink between 12 and 36 cans of diet soda – depending on the amount of aspartame in the beverage – every day to be at risk. Though, there has been no follow-up report after that by IARC
Aspartame is made up of two amino acids: aspartic acid and phenylalanine, which are naturally occurring amino acids in many protein-rich foods. In the body, aspartame is metabolised into its constituent components - aspartic acid, phenylalanine, and a small amount of methanol
In May 2023, WHO released a health guideline on artificial sweeteners and recommended against the use of NSS (non-sugar sweeteners). These can possibly cause an increase in body weight and put the person at risk of contracting non-communicable diseases
Apart from Aspartame, other commonly-used non-sugar sweeteners are acesulfame K, advantame, cyclamates, neotame, saccharin, sucralose, stevia and stevia derivatives