Manufacturers will not have to recall drinks and other products that contain the world‘s most widely used sugar substitute
Except, for now, the consumption of coca cola, tea, yogurt and other drinks that contain aspartame, a sugar substitute sweetener and subject of concern about a possible correlation with cancer.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has defined it as “possibly carcinogenic”, but has not recommended the withdrawal of soft drinks and other products, nor a decrease in daily consumption within a certain threshold.
Aspartame is an artificial (chemical) sweetener that has been used extensively in various food and beverage products since the 1980s, including diet sodas, chewing gum, gelatin, ice cream, dairy products such as yogurt, breakfast cereals , toothpaste, and medications such as cough drops and chewable vitamins.
First approved by US authorities in 1974, it is about 200 times more potent than sugar, but contains fewer calories.
WHO recommendations
The affirmation of the Health Agency within the UN comes after years of studies conducted jointly by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) of the WHO and the Food and Agriculture Organization ( Fao).
The IARC has classified aspartame as possibly carcinogenic based on limited evidence of cancer in humans (specifically, hepatocellular carcinoma, which is a type of liver cancer), the statement said.
“The evaluations (on aspartame) have indicated that, although safety is not compromised in commonly used doses, potential effects have been described that need to be investigated with more in-depth and better quality studies,” said Francesco Branca, director of the Department for nutrition and food safety of WHO.
“So, we are definitely not recommending manufacturers to withdraw or authorities to withdraw products from the market, but probably, considering the fact that there are some concerns that have been identified by some studies, inconsistently, or at least with insufficient clarity, we are certainly advising consumers to limit their consumption of sweeteners.”
The decision comes just weeks after it said non-sugar sweeteners won’t aid weight loss and could increase the risk of diabetes and heart disease.
(Euronews)
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