The WHO says aspartame may be a cancer risk. Experts say more research is needed

After weeks of speculation, the World Health Organization (WHO) listed aspartame, a popular sweetener as an alternative to sugar, as “possibly carcinogenic to humans” on Thursday.

In a summary report published in The Lancet Oncology, researchers from WHO and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) reviewed several trials and studies in which humans and animals ingested aspartame. They found “limited” evidence for liver cancer risks in humans.

While no “consistent association” between aspartame consumption and a specific type of cancer has been observed, experts say the naming change should lead to further research into its health implications.

“We do not advise companies to withdraw products from the market, nor do we advise consumers to stop consuming altogether. We do [are] I just recommend being a little more moderate,” Francesco Branca, director of the WHO’s division of nutrition and food safety, told a press conference on Wednesday.

“This is really more of a call to the research community to try to better clarify and understand the carcinogenic hazard that may or may not be posed by aspartame consumption,” added Mary Schubauer-Berigan, head of the monographs program at the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), also part of WHO.

The designation was made official Thursday, more than a month after researchers met to discuss a new possible classification for aspartame. Full reports on the UN investigators’ assessments are expected to follow in the coming months.

What exactly is aspartame and what is it used for?

According to the government of Canada, aspartame is a low-calorie artificial sweetener that has been used as a food additive here since 1981. It is used in foods and drinks such as pop, cereal and chewing gum and is also used as an alternative to sugar in caffeinated drinks.

According to the federal government, it is currently used in more than 90 countries, including the United States, European countries, Australia and New Zealand.

How does Canada currently regulate aspartame?

The federal government says food additives like aspartame are subject to “strict” controls under the Food and Drugs Act and Regulations. According to his websiteofficials evaluated an “extensive” battery of toxicology tests in laboratory animals and examined the results of a number of human clinical trials.

“There is no evidence that the consumption of foods containing this sweetener, under the terms of the Food and Drug Regulations and as part of a balanced diet, would pose a health risk to consumers,” according to the Health Canada website. .

Scientists at the Food Directorate of Health Canada have set the acceptable daily intake (ADI) of aspartame at 40 milligrams per kilogram of body weight per day. That is the same amount as recommended by the FAO and the WHO Joint Committee of Experts on Food Additives, which weighed in on the new classification.

In response to the WHO’s change of designation, Health Canada said in an email to CBC News that it will review the initial report and full assessments once they are released.

“At that time, the department will determine, based on the scientific data, whether action is needed for aspartame in Canada,” a Health Canada spokesperson said.

“If the new research finds that aspartame or any other food additive is unsafe for its permitted use, Health Canada will take action to protect Canadians, which may include reducing the maximum use level, further restricting it in which foods it may or may not be used.” which means it can no longer be used as a food additive.”

Do you need to change your consumption habits?

The IARC has a total of four classifications that rank carcinogenic hazards to humans: carcinogenic to humans, probable human carcinogen, possibly carcinogenic to humans, and unclassifiable.

Vasanti Malik, an assistant professor who teaches nutritional sciences at the University of Toronto, said the UN designation for aspartame does not change her understanding of the current literature. She compared the designation to that of red meat, which is considered a “probable carcinogen”.

“We need really strong research that can look at the different sweeteners independently over time, and that’s not how the studies were done,” Malik said.

According to current Health Canada guidelines, the average adult needs to drink about 14 cans of Diet Coke to meet their acceptable daily intake of aspartame, Malik said. While that might be “crazy” to visualize, she said people should keep track of where else aspartame is found in their diets, such as yogurt and desserts.

“We know we want to reduce sugar in the diet and artificial sweeteners are part of that,” she said.

Consumers should primarily use sweeteners like aspartame as a temporary alternative to cutting back on sugar, said David Ma, a professor of human health and nutritional sciences at the University of Guelph in Ontario.

While aspartame is usually found in “small” and “tolerable” amounts, he said people should still look for healthier alternatives.

“The simple message is, don’t worry too much,” Ma said. “If you are [worried]are there alternatives, drink more water or other healthy drinks.”