Aspartame in the news, again

It’s like waiting for a verdict that you already know will turn out anyway. And while you’re waiting, you’ve probably opened your cupboard to see what products contain the sweetener, aspartame.

Reuter's exclusive report on aspartame has the F&B industry and consumers reeling these days. It said the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) is set to make an announcement on the new  classification of this sugar alternative.  Will aspartame be listed under the category “Possibly Carcinogenic to Humans”?

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Aspartame, which by the way is pronounced a·spr·taym, is a low-calorie sweetener about 200 times sweeter than sugar.  And so this sugar alternative is currently found in popular diet sodas, sugar-free candy and gums, as well as Equal® and Nutrasweet® sweeteners, which are highly consumed by people in efforts to cut their intake of sugar, while also enjoying the taste of their favourite hot / cold beverages and sweet cravings.  

 If you take a look at past research, this is not the first time aspartame has been linked to certain health concerns, but it has been deemed safe as regulated by the US FDA and EFSA. In fact, many ingredients -  and materials - that we know are now safe to consume or use, could be harmful tomorrow. Thanks to continuing scientific studies, we will know. 

 But while the world awaits the IARC’s official announcement, that will be released by 14 July 2023, what’s there to do? Should companies start rethinking formulations? Should consumers especially diabetics seek other alternative sweeteners? Should we all be reevaluating the ingredients in the products we consume? Most likely.

Read our report Choosing the right sweeteners

Read more news on sugar reduction and sugar alternatives

Aspartame in the news:

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Aspartame is a possible carcinogen, WHO says. Should you stop drinking diet soda?

WHO is reviewing potential cancer links to aspartame

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