The World Health Organization group in charge of cancer, has perceived an ingredient used in the production of drinks and other consumable foods, as a “possible” cause of cancer. In the same vein, other analyst groups who examined the same data as the W.H.O did, have disclosed that, though cancerous, the ingredient is still considered as a substitute to sugar.
According to two organizations affiliated with the World Health Orgnization (WHO), the sugar substitute, aspartame is a “possible carcinogen,” yet it is still safe to be eaten in proportion.
The assessment was conducted by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), a body under the umbrella of W.H.O, while the other analysis came from W.H.O-selected expert panel and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. However, their guidance on the use of the sweetener did not change.
“We’re not advising consumers to stop consuming Aspartame altogether. We’re just advising a bit of moderation,” the WHO’s nutrition director Dr. Francesco Branca advised.
The World Health Organization nutrition director, prior to the announcement of the research, tried to explain how contradictory the reports may be, to help consumers to comprehend the nature of the aspartame ingredient, most especially those who desire artificial sweeteners to natural sugar.
“If consumers are faced with the decision of whether to take cola with sweeteners or one with sugar, I think there should be a third option considered which is to drink water instead.”
Dr. Francesco Branca, WHO Nutrition Director.
In its first declaration on the additive, the Lyon-based IARC said aspartame was a “possible carcinogen”. That classification means there is limited evidence that a substance can cause cancer.
The first research conducted by the French-based IARC, revealed that, aspartame was a “possible carcinogen,” thus, the categorization indicates that, there is insufficient proof that, the chemical can cause cancer. It fails to determine the quantity an individual would have to ingest in order to be at risk.
The WHO and FAO Joint Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA), which is situated in Geneva, considered this issue separately.
However, JECFA revealed that, it had conducted its own in-depth examination on Aspartame and found no conclusive proof of risk brought on by Aspartame. Despite this, JECFA kept urging consumers to limit their daily Aspartame ingestion to less than 40 mg/kg.
Moreover, the food and beverage industry association said, the report declared Aspartame as a consumable and a good substitute for people who desire to reduce their sugar intake. Other experts who are not familiar with the research, disclosed that, the evidence pointing Aspartame as a possible cause of cancer, is weak and baseless.
According to the WHO, considering the standard aspartame concentration of the drinks, a person weighing between 60 and 70 kg, would require to drink in excess of 9 to 14 cans of soft drinks per day to exceed the limit. “Our results do not indicate that occasional consumption could pose a risk to most consumers,” Branca said.
The World Health Organization, according to the nutrition director, is not compelling industries to refrain from using aspartame in their productions, but instead urging them not to overuse the ingredient. Branca noted in a press release that, the global death of one in six people, is caused by cancer.
“Science is continuously expanding to assess the possible initiating or facilitating factors of cancer, in the hope of reducing these numbers and the human toll. The assessments of aspartame have indicated that, while safety is not a major concern at the doses which are commonly used, potential effects have been described that need to be investigated by more and better studies.”
Dr. Francesco BrancA, W.H.O Nutrition Director.
