WHO: Aspartame may be carcinogenic but relatively safe within a daily intake of 40mg/kg

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The World Health Organization (WHO) releases an assessment report: Aspartame may be carcinogenic, relatively safe within a daily intake of 40mg/kg.

On July 13, according to the WHO official website on the 14th, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), the World Health Organization (WHO), and the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) have released the assessment results of the health effects of aspartame.

The IARC categorizes aspartame as “possibly carcinogenic to humans” (IARC Group 2B) citing “limited evidence” of carcinogenicity in humans, while JECFA reiterates the acceptable daily intake of 40mg/kg body weight.

WHO: Aspartame may be carcinogenic but relatively safe within a daily intake of 40mg/kg

Aspartame is an artificial (chemical) sweetener widely used in various food and beverage products since the 1980s.

“Cancer is one of the leading causes of death globally, with one-sixth of all deaths attributed to it each year.” The Director of the WHO’s Department of Nutrition and Food Safety stated that the assessment of aspartame shows that although safety is not the primary concern at commonly used doses, potential effects have been described, requiring further investigation through more and better research.

JECFA’s conclusion is that the assessed data indicates no reason to change the previously established Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI) for aspartame of 0-40 milligrams per kilogram of body weight. Therefore, the committee reaffirms that daily intake within this limit is safe for an individual.

For example, assuming no intake from other food sources, a 70-kilogram adult would need to consume 9-14 or more cans of sugar-free soft drink containing 200 or 300 milligrams of aspartame each day to exceed the acceptable daily intake.

The assessment results indicate that the evaluations of the impact of aspartame by IARC and JECFA are based on scientific data collected from a range of sources, including peer-reviewed papers, government reports, and studies conducted for regulatory purposes.

These studies have undergone review by independent experts, and both committees have taken measures to ensure the independence and reliability of their assessments.

Meanwhile, IARC and WHO will continue monitoring new evidence and encourage independent research groups to conduct further studies on the potential association between aspartame and consumer health effects.