An artificial sweetener commonly found in popular drinks such as Diet Coke, Coke Zero, and Pepsi Max is expected to be classified as “possibly carcinogenic to humans” next month. Insider sources have revealed that the World Health Organization's (WHO) International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) will issue this reclassification. Aspartame, the artificial sweetener in question, was first developed in the 1960s and is approximately 200 times sweeter than sugar. It is commonly used in various “diet” and “sugar-free” products, including Fanta, Lucozade, and Dr Pepper, in addition to the aforementioned beverages. According to a report by Bournemouthecho.co.uk, the WHO’s reclassification of aspartame as a potential carcinogen aims to raise public awareness about the sweetener’s potential risks.

Source: Daily Nation June 30, 2023 09:40 UTC