The WHO considers aspartame, a sweetener used in sodas, a “potential” carcinogen.

Aspartame, a controversial sweetener, is a “possible” human carcinogen, the WHO said on Friday, declaring that further studies are needed to “further clarify the situation”.

The WHO now considers aspartame, an artificial sweetener used specifically in sodas, to be carcinogenic to humans, but the daily dose considered safe remains unchanged, Friday pointed out.

“We are not advising companies to recall their products, nor are we advising consumers to stop their consumption altogether,” said Dr Francesco Branca, director of WHO’s Department of Nutrition, Health and Development, during the presentation of the two assessments.

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 risk level of aspartame. At a meeting held from June 6 to 13, these experts concluded that the sweetener is “probably carcinogenic to humans” (classification group 2B).

According to the WHO, the decision to place aspartame in this group was based on “limited indications” of cancer in humans, specifically hepatocellular carcinoma, a type of liver cancer.

Limited evidence of carcinogenicity has also been observed in laboratory animals. According to Dr. Branca, further studies are needed “to further clarify the situation.”

There is no change in the recommended daily dose

A joint panel of experts on food additives from WHO and FAO (UN Food and Agriculture Agency) met from June 27 to July 6 to assess the risks posed by aspartame.

The data assessed since 1981 have not provided sufficient evidence to change the acceptable daily intake to a maximum of 40 mg per kilogram of body weight, so that a person can “safely” consume aspartame within this range of daily amounts.

With a 200- or 300-milligram can of this sweetened “light” soft drink, a 70-kg adult would consume 9 to 14 cans a day more than the acceptable daily intake. proof’s

Aspartame is added to low-calorie drinks such as diet sodas, ready meals, chewing gum, gelatin, ice cream and breakfast cereals, as well as medicines such as cough drops and other products such as toothpaste.