Popular sugar substitute aspartame expected to be announced as a possible carcinogen.Photo:Getty
Getty
The ubiquitous sugar substitute is relied on for calorie restriction and found in hundreds of commonly available products. Since its initial approval in 1974, it’s been sold on its own under the brand names Nutrasweet, Equal, and Sugar Twin, and is often an ingredient in drinks like Diet Coke and packaged food like Sugar-Free Jello and Dannon Activia yogurt.
According to theU.S. Food and Drug Administration, aspartame “is about 200 times sweeter” than regular sugar.
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But how much aspartame is safe to consume? The current recommendations require reading labels — and doing a bit of math, since, according to the FDA, “the acceptable daily intake for the sweetener is 50mg for each kilogram of body weight.”
A can ofDiet Coke, for example, contains about 200 mg of aspartame.
While currentFDA guidelinessay a 132-lb. person would need to consume 75 packets of artificial sweetener per day to reach the acceptable limit, the Joint Expert Committee on Food Additives — a separate WHO and United Nations committee — is updating its risk assessment, including how much is safe to consume,according to CNN.
The problem with aspartame is how the chemical is metabolized in the body.
“This chemical is hydrolyzed and absorbed in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. This process leads to the release of methanol, aspartic acid, and phenylalanine,” according to a report fromnews-medical.net.
This isn’t the first time aspartame has been linked to cancer; a2022 French studyfound that “artificial sweeteners (especially aspartame and acesulfame-K), which are used in many food and beverage brands worldwide, were associated with increased cancer risk.”
Aspartame isn’t the only sugar substitute that’s come under scrutiny for health risks; in February,a study found that erythritol— a popular staple in low-carb and keto diets — is linked to blood clotting, stroke, heart attack and death.
Last month, WHOadvised againstusing artificial sweeteners for weight control, suggesting “potential undesirable effects” like “an increased risk of type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and mortality in adults.”
The IARC’s findings on aspartame are due to be announced on July 14 — and revised guidelines on safe daily allowances are expected to follow.
source: people.com
