WHO's Cancer Research Division Classifies Aspartame as "Possibly Carcinogenic"
The World Health Organization's (WHO) cancer research division, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), has classified aspartame as "possibly carcinogenic to humans." The IARC's classification is based on an assessment of all the available scientific evidence, including animal studies and some human studies.
Aspartame is a synthetic sweetener that is used in a wide variety of products, including diet sodas, chewing gum, and some foods. It is 200 times sweeter than sugar, but it has no calories. Aspartame has been approved for use in the United States and many other countries since the 1980s.
The IARC's classification of aspartame as "possibly carcinogenic" is based on two studies in rats and mice. These studies found that aspartame was linked to an increased risk of some types of cancer, including leukemia and lymphoma. However, the IARC noted that the studies had some limitations, and that more research is needed to confirm the findings.
The IARC's classification does not mean that aspartame definitely causes cancer. It simply means that there is some evidence that it could be a cancer risk. The IARC's classification is based on a weight-of-evidence assessment, which considers all the available scientific evidence, including the quality of the studies, the consistency of the findings, and the strength of the association between exposure and cancer risk.
The IARC's classification of aspartame is likely to raise concerns among consumers who use artificial sweeteners. However, it is important to note that the IARC's classification is based on limited evidence, and that more research is needed to confirm the findings. In the meantime, consumers who are concerned about their cancer risk may want to limit their intake of aspartame.
Here are some additional resources:
- WHO's cancer research agency to say aspartame sweetener a possible carcinogen: https://www.reuters.com/article/health-who-aspartame/exclusive-whos-cancer-research-agency-to-say-aspartame-sweetener-a-possible-carcinogen-sources-idUSL1N38K186
- Artificial Sweeteners and Cancer: https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/causes-prevention/risk/diet/artificial-sweeteners-fact-sheet
- The IARC Monographs on the Identification of Carcinogenic Hazards to Humans: https://monographs.iarc.who.int/agents-classified-by-the-iarc/
