Aspartame: Association reinforces the safety of the sweetener – 07/13/2023 – Equilíbrio

In view of the WHO (World Health Organization) declaration on the inclusion of aspartame in the list of possibly carcinogenic substances, the International Sweeteners Association (ISA) issued a declaration reinforcing the safety of the product in balanced diets with the objective of weight loss and reducing sugar consumption.

The new consideration on aspartame has been awaited since the end of June, when the possibility of including the sweetener on the list of carcinogens by the IARC (International Agency for Research on Cancer), the cancer research arm of the WHO, was announced.

The substance has a sweetening power about 200 times greater than common sugar and is widely used in dietetic products, such as chewing gum, soft drinks and powdered juices. Today, other types of sweeteners, such as sucralose, are also frequently used in the production of these types of foods.

Aspartame has been included in group 2B on the IARC list, alongside foods like red meat and pickled vegetables. The agency groups the substances according to the quantity and quality of scientific evidence on the association of compounds with cancer. In the case of this group, some studies indicate a connection with cancer, but there is no scientific consensus.

According to a statement, ISA considers that the WHO decision does not nullify the safety of the product, emphasizing the opinion of JECFA (Joint Committee of FAO/WHO of Experts on Food Additives).

“JECFA has once again reaffirmed the safety of aspartame after conducting an exhaustive, comprehensive and scientifically substantiated review,” states ISA Secretary General Frances Hunt-Wood in the document.

The association reinforces that the sweetener is safe for use in balanced diets with the aim of reducing sugar intake, and indicates JECFA as a reference institution in the assessment of food safety for human consumption.

“It is important to note that the IARC is not a competent body on food safety and its 2B classification does not take into account intake levels or the actual risk, which makes an IARC review much less comprehensive than the exhaustive reviews carried out by food safety bodies such as JECFA and potentially confusing for consumers,” the document says.

There is no scientific consensus on the carcinogenic potential of sweeteners in general. However, there are studies that link the consumption of aspartame to certain types of cancer, which motivates the alert of the WHO in relation to the substance.

Experts claim that it is enough to use the substance within the recommended daily values ​​for there to be damage to health. According to the FDA (American food and drug regulatory agency), the limit for aspartame is 50 mg/kg per day.