WHO finds artificial sweetener used in Diet Coke and Coke Zero is ‘possibly carcinogenic’

One of the world’s most common artificial sweeteners is set to be declared a possible carcinogen next month.

The push will be led by the World Health Organisation’s cancer research arm the International Agency for Research on Cancer, according to two sources with knowledge of the process — pitting it against the food industry and regulators.

Aspartame is used in products from Coca-Cola diet drinks, such as Diet Coke and Coke Zero, to Mars’ Extra chewing gum and some Snapple drinks.

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In July the IARC will list aspartame for the first time as “possibly carcinogenic to humans”.

The IARC ruling, finalised earlier this month after a meeting of the group’s external experts, is intended to assess whether something is a potential hazard or not, based on all the published evidence.

It does not take into account how much of a product a person can safely consume.

Aspartame is an ingredient in Coca-Cola diet drinks. Credit: Reuters
The artificial sweetener is also found in sugar-free chewing gums such as Mars’ Extra. Credit: Reuters

This advice for individuals comes from a separate WHO expert committee on food additives, known as JECFA (the Joint WHO and Food and Agriculture Organisation’s Expert Committee on Food Additives), alongside determinations from national regulators.

However, similar IARC rulings in the past for different substances have raised concerns among consumers about their use, led to lawsuits, and pressured manufacturers to recreate Recipes and swap to alternatives.

That has led to criticism that the IARC’s assessments can be confusing to the public.

JECFA is also reviewing aspartame use this year. Its meeting began at the end of June, and it is due to announce its findings on the same day the IARC makes public its decision — on July 14.

Considered safe since 1981

Since 1981, JECFA has said aspartame is safe to consume within accepted daily limits.

An adult weighing 60kg would have to drink between 12 and 36 cans of diet soft drink – depending on the amount of aspartame in the beverage – every day to be at risk.

Its view has been widely shared by national regulators, including in the United States and Europe.

An IARC spokesperson said both the IARC and JECFA committees’ findings were confidential until July, but added they were “complementary” — with IARC’s conclusion representing “the first fundamental step to understand carcinogenicity”.

The additives committee “conducts risk assessment, which determines the probability of a specific type of harm (eg cancer) to occur under certain conditions and levels of exposure”.

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