The recent disclosure of a confidential assessment by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), a division of the World Health Organization (WHO), regarding a commonly utilized artificial sweetener has caused significant upheaval within the food and beverage sector. This revelation has prompted social organizations to call for immediate action, despite reassurances from both the WHO and medical professionals asserting that the sweetener remains safe for consumption within defined limits.
The global beverage industry association, which includes major companies like Coca-Cola and PepsiCo, expressed its concerns regarding the report on aspartame, an artificial sweetener widely used in a variety of food and beverage products such as diet colas, chewing gums, candies, ice-creams, cookies, breakfast cereals, cough drops, and chewable vitamins. According to the association, the report may have unnecessarily bewildered consumers with sensationalized speculation.
Read More: Lobby group challenges WHO’s non-sugar sweetener guidelines, claiming lack of scientific rigor
On June 28, Reuters reported that the artificial sweetener aspartame might be classified as a ‘carcinogen’ by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), which is supported by the World Health Organization (WHO). This news has sparked significant concerns among consumers.
Read More: WHO’s cancer agency set to declare popular sweetener aspartame as “possible carcinogenic”
In an early Friday report, the World Health Organization (WHO) stated that the sweetener is deemed “potentially carcinogenic,” yet it is still considered safe for consumption within the current daily intake guidelines.
The World Health Organization (WHO) affirmed that the acceptable daily intake level of the sweetener remains unaltered.
“We’re not advising companies to withdraw products, nor are we advising consumers to stop consuming altogether,” Francesco Branca, WHO’s nutrition and food safety director, said in a statement. “We’re just advising for a bit of moderation.”
Reacting to the report, International Council of Beverages Associations (ICBA) in a statement quoting its executive director Kate Loatman said: “IARC, which is not a food safety agency, has now officially conceded that aspartame poses no more of a hazard than aloe vera and hundreds of other substances that it places in the same category based on evidence IARC itself describes as ‘limited’ and ‘less than sufficient’.”
However, according to certain industry executives, the advancement could potentially encourage numerous companies to transition towards using natural sweeteners.
Currently, aspartame has obtained approval from international standards authorities, including the US Food and Drug Administration and the UK’s National Health Service.
According to doctors, although aspartame has been classified as a potential carcinogen, there is no reason for consumers to panic. However, they emphasize the importance of implementing stricter labeling regulations.
Ambrish Mithal, Chairman of endocrinology and diabetes at Max Healthcare, said, “There is no real proof (of aspartame causing liver cancer) cited in the report. The WHO has also been very circumspect in its actual recommendation. While it’s advisable to reduce the use of such sweeteners including aspartame, there is no need to panic and abandon it.”
Health NGOs, on the other hand, advocated for the banning or restricted use of aspartame.
“Aspartame being carcinogenic and a risk hazard was a known fact, but scientifically it has taken a decade to counter the industry arguments,” said Ashim Sanyal, chief operating office of Consumer Voice, a social organisation working on increasing consumer awareness. “FSSAI (the country’s food safety regulator) must take immediate steps to issue an ultimatum to brands to stop the use of aspartame,” he said.
A high-ranking representative from the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) announced that the organization intends to review the contents of the recent World Health Organization (WHO) report using its scientific panel. However, the official emphasized that if there are any revisions to the guidelines, they would be formulated independently by the FSSAI and would not solely rely on WHO standards.
“Our regulations will be based on our own scientific tests, based on risk assessment studies and in consultation with all stakeholders,” said the official, who requested not to be named.
Read More: India will set its own standards on sweeteners: FSSAI
In 2022, low or zero-sugar options like Diet Coke accounted for approximately one-third of Coca-Cola’s worldwide sales volumes.
Coca-Cola opted not to provide a comment, while executives from PepsiCo were unavailable for comment.
Read More: Analysts foresee minimal disruption for Coca-Cola following WHO’s aspartame decision
