The artificial sweetener aspartame might soon be declared a “possible carcinogen,” or cancer-causing agent, according to a leaked report from the World Health Organization. Aspartame is used in Diet Coke, Coke Zero, chewing gum, diet Snapple, breakfast cereals, ice cream and many other common food and drinks. The IARC — which has also linked red meat, working overnight and cellphone use to cancer — might be on shaky ground if it declares aspartame a possible carcinogen. However, in 2022, the NutriNet-Santé study of over 102,000 adults found that those who consumed artificial sweeteners were slightly more likely to develop cancer than those who didn’t. Aspartame is the artificial sweetener in Diet Coke, Coke Zero and many other popular food and beverage items.

Source: The Star June 29, 2023 16:57 UTC