Recently, Reuters reported that the World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) will declare aspartame as “possibly carcinogenic” next month. However, this should not be cause for alarm or a reason to throw away any sugar-free foods containing the artificial sweetener. That’s because the IARC only assesses the hazard of a substance, not the actual risk. The IARC reviews data about a substance and then declares whether it’s carcinogenic, probably carcinogenic, possibly carcinogenic, or unclassifiable. This means that any substance the IARC reviews cannot be ruled out as non-carcinogenic. Therefore, the IARC lists aloe vera, wood dust, and even “very hot beverages” as potential causes of cancer, even though the actual risk of developing cancer from these items is low.
So who should you turn to for guidance on food safety? Within the World Health Organization, the task of assessing risk falls to the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA). In the United States, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) also plays a role in assessing risk. JECFA has deemed aspartame safe for consumption since 1981, and the FDA has also declared that aspartame is safe for the general population. The FDA has reviewed over 100 studies on aspartame and constantly reevaluates its safety. The agency even objects to the concurrent review of aspartame by both IARC and JECFA, stating that JECFA is better suited to assess any risk associated with the consumption of aspartame. The FDA views JECFA’s review process as more reliable since it reviews all available data, not just public data.
Daniele Wikoff, a principal scientist and health sciences practice director at ToxStrategies, confirms that JECFA, the FDA, and the European Food Safety Authority are all conducting reviews of aspartame based on a large body of high-quality scientific research. These agencies have repeatedly evaluated and reaffirmed the safety of aspartame over the past 40 years. Wikoff also explains that JECFA evaluates food safety from multiple angles, not just cancer, providing a more comprehensive assessment of aspartame’s health risks.
Food safety agencies, like JECFA and the FDA, are responsible for defining the accepted daily intake (ADI) of food additives. The ADI represents the amount of a particular food additive that can be consumed daily over the course of a lifetime without adverse effects. Scientists incorporate a safety factor when determining the ADI to ensure levels are health-protective. The FDA sets the ADI for aspartame at 50mg per kilogram of body weight, while JECFA sets it at 40mg. This means that for a person weighing 150 pounds, they could consume roughly 3,400mg of aspartame per day. A packet of NutraSweet, which contains aspartame, is about 37mg, and a 12oz can of Diet Coke contains around 200mg. Therefore, a person could consume around 91 packets of NutraSweet or 17 cans of Diet Coke every day without exceeding the recommended ADI.
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It’s important to note that everyone reacts differently to substances. If you’re prone to headaches, you might want to avoid aspartame, as some studies suggest that the sweetener may trigger headaches and migraines for some people. Additionally, it’s worth mentioning that not all carcinogens cause cancer in every circumstance. Some require constant exposure over a lifetime, while others are more likely to cause cancer in individuals with certain genetic factors. Medications can also be classified as carcinogens for one type of cancer but be an effective treatment for another type of cancer.
In conclusion, a leaked report from a non-food safety agency should not be the basis for deciding whether to consume aspartame. Aspartame is one of the most studied sweeteners and undergoes periodic, rigorous review by food safety agencies. Until these agencies say otherwise, there’s no need to panic or avoid products containing aspartame.
