Aspartame, the artificial sweetener found in Diet Coke and other products, has been declared “possibly carcinogenic to humans” by the World Health Organization (WHO) following a safety review. However, the WHO clarified that only excessive consumption of aspartame poses a cancer risk. The current safe limit is set at 40mg per kg body weight per day. To exceed this limit, an 11st adult would need to consume 14 cans of a diet soft drink containing 200mg of aspartame. The UK products that contain aspartame include Diet Coke, Dr Pepper, Extra chewing gum, and Muller Light yogurts. The WHO suggests that children consume no more than two to three per day. Despite the reclassification, the WHO is not calling for affected products to be removed from the market, but does urge manufacturers to consider reformulating products using sweeteners. The WHO also advises people to limit their consumption of sweeteners and switch to tap water instead. The ruling came from two separate subsidiary bodies of the WHO. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) declared aspartame as a possible carcinogen based on limited evidence. However, the Joint WHO and Food and Agriculture Organization’s Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) concluded that there is no convincing evidence that aspartame causes cancer within the limits set by the WHO. Experts note that the hazards of sugar to health are definite and real, and excess sugar consumption can lead to obesity and other complications. Overall, the ruling on aspartame by the WHO is seen as a storm in a teacup, with sugar remaining a more significant health concern.
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