The World Health Organisation is set to issue a warning about a common sweetener, used in drinks such as Diet Coke, which could possibly cause cancer. Aspartame will be listed as “possibly carcinogenic to humans” from next month following a report by the WHO’s International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). According to JECFA, aspartame is safe to consume within accepted daily limits, with an adult weighing 9st needing to drink between 12 and 36 cans of diet soda – depending on the amount of aspartame in the drink – every day to be at risk. The International Sweeteners Association (ISA), whose members include Mars Wrigley, Coca-Cola and Pepsico said it had “serious concerns with the IARC review, which may mislead consumers”. JECFA is due to announce its findings on the same day that the IARC makes public its decision on July 14.

Source: Daily Nation June 29, 2023 14:26 UTC