Aspartame Sweetener ‘Potential Carcinogen’: WHO
- July 14, 2023
- 0
He aspartame sweetener – present in soft drinks Light and even chewing gum It is a “potential carcinogen”.announced two groups associated with the World Health Organization (WHO). The
He aspartame sweetener – present in soft drinks Light and even chewing gum It is a “potential carcinogen”.announced two groups associated with the World Health Organization (WHO).
The opinion is the result of two WHO panels, one of which indicates whether there is evidence that a substance poses a potential hazard, and the other assesses what a real risk the substance poses.
Aspartame is one of the world’s most popular sweeteners and is used in a variety of products: cold drinks Light from Coca-Cola to Extra Mars chewing gum.
In a press conference ahead of the announcement, WHO chief nutritionist Francesco Branca attempted to help consumers understand the seemingly contradictory claims, especially those looking for artificial sweeteners to avoid sugar.
It is advisable to drink water
“If consumers are faced with the decision to drink carbonated soft drinks with sweeteners or sugar, I think a third option should be considered, namely drink water instead, Branca said.
In his first supplement claim International Agency for Research on Cancer Lyon’s IARC stated that aspartame is a “potential carcinogen”.
This classification means that there is limited evidence that a substance can cause cancer.
Application does not take into account how much a person should consume to be at riskan issue that is being considered by a separate group, the WHO Joint Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).
Adequate intake of aspartame
After conducting its own review, JECFA stated that it has no strong evidence of harm from aspartame and continues to recommend it. intake below 40 mg/kg per day.
This level was first set in 1981, and regulators around the world have similar recommendations for their stocks.
Several non-review scientists have said the evidence linking aspartame to cancer is weak.
The food and beverage industry associations said the solutions demonstrated that aspartame is safe and a good choice for people who want to reduce sugar in their diets.
The WHO said current consumption levels mean, for example, that a person weighing 60 to 70 kg would need to drink 9 to 14 cans of carbonated drinks per day to exceed the limit, based on the average content of aspartame in drinks: about 10 times more. than most people consume.
“Our results do not indicate that episodic consumption may pose a risk to most consumers,” Branca said.
Moderation for producers and consumers
He added that the WHO is not urging companies to completely remove aspartame from their products, but is asking manufacturers and consumers to exercise restraint.
Earlier this year, the WHO announced that there was no evidence that sweeteners help control weightsomething the industry has questioned.
“We are issuing a warning,” Branca said. (Reuters)
Source: Aristegui Noticias
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