Cancer warning: Diet Coke ingredient increases risk of illness, says WHO

The World Health Organisation is planning to release a cautionary statement regarding a frequently used artificial sweetener found in beverages like Diet Coke, which has potential links to causing cancer.

Starting next month, according to a recent study conducted by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), aspartame will receive a classification of "potentially cancer-causing to humans".

As stated in the report, a panel of independent specialists conducted an inquiry and evaluated the likelihood of products posing any potential risks.

But the IARC's decisions have been criticized for causing unnecessary concern in the previous instances.

Starting next month, the World Health Organization (WHO) will classify aspartame as 'potentially cancer-causing to humans' after releasing a report.

In the past, it has labeled working during the night and consuming red meat as belonging to its category of "likely carcinogens," and using mobile phones as being in the category of "potentially carcinogenic," just like aspartame.

The report fails to take into account the acceptable amount of aspartame that one can consume without any risks.

The guidance mentioned above is provided by a distinct organization called JECFA. JECFA is a global panel of specialists in food additives overseen by the United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organisation and the World Health Organization.

As per JECFA's assessment, consuming aspartame within prescribed daily limits is considered safe. An individual weighing 9st and wanting to be potentially at risk would need to consume somewhere between 12 and 36 cans of diet soda on a daily basis, depending on the quantity of aspartame present in the beverage.

The International Sweeteners Association (ISA), consisting of companies like Mars Wrigley, Coca-Cola, and Pepsico, expressed their significant reservations about the IARC evaluation, asserting that it could potentially deceive consumers.

According to Frances Hunt-Wood, the head of the ISA, IARC does not focus on ensuring the safety of food, and their evaluation of aspartame is not thorough from a scientific perspective. Furthermore, their conclusions heavily rely on research that has lost its credibility.

JECFA is set to release its results on the very day when the IARC reveals its verdict on July 14th.

The issuance of two distinct reports has raised worries among both professionals and authorities, as it may lead to perplexity among the general population.

The International Sweeteners Association (ISA), which consists of companies like Mars Wrigley, Coca-Cola, and Pepsico, expressed significant reservations about the IARC evaluation, fearing that it might potentially deceive customers.

"We humbly request that both entities collaborate in examining aspartame to prevent any misunderstandings or apprehensions among the general population," Nozomi Tomita, a representative from Japan's health ministry, expressed in a written correspondence to Zsuzsanna Jakab, the deputy director general of WHO.

For many years, there has been significant research conducted on Aspartame. Just last year, a study conducted in France involved 100,000 adults. This study revealed that individuals who consumed higher quantities of artificial sweeteners, such as aspartame, experienced a slightly increased probability of developing cancer.

Regulatory bodies across the world have given their approval for the use of aspartame after thoroughly examining the existing evidence. Additionally, prominent companies in the food and beverage industry have stood up in support of this ingredient.