'Possibly Carcinogenic': How Harmful is Aspartame?

Aspartame has been used for decades to sweeten foods without the calories of sugar. The sweetener has gained a dubious reputation after several studies revealed health risks. These studies have not always been reliable, which is why the substance was deemed safe for use. Two agencies within the World Health Organization now label aspartame as a possible carcinogen. However, the WHO has not changed its advice on safe use.

Also read: How unhealthy are sugar and sweeteners really?

What is aspartame?

Aspartame is an intense sweetener that is about 200 times sweeter than sugar and contains hardly any calories. “We mainly see it in low-calorie products,” says Bruno De Meulenaer, professor of food technology at Ghent University. “Because it is about 200 times sweeter than sucrose, you need much less of it for the same sweet effect.” You can find aspartame in diet soda, sugar-free candy or chewing gum, for example.

Aspartame has the E number E951. Sweeteners are only given this E number if they have been found safe by the European Food Safety Authority after extensive research. Aspartame has been considered safe to consume since 1981, provided that its use remains within reasonable limits. For example, an adult weighing 60 kg would have to drink between 12 and 36 cans of diet soda every day – depending on the amount of aspartame in the drink – to be at risk. This guideline currently applies in the US and several European countries.

Also read: Cancer and nutrition: Can you starve cancer cells by not eating sugar or carbohydrates?

Is aspartame harmful?

Whether or not aspartame poses health risks has been the subject of many studies. In 2013, an extensive study was conducted. “At the time, it led to reassuring conclusions about its safety in food,” says researcher Andy Smith, affiliated with the University of Leicester.

But other studies have yielded conflicting results. Last year, a study was conducted on 100,000 subjects who consumed larger amounts of aspartame. According to the research results, there may still be health risks and even a slightly increased risk of cancer.

Researchers from the Ramazzini Institute also looked into the subject. Their study allegedly showed that rats fed large amounts of aspartame developed more tumors. However, the European Food Safety Authority questioned the reliability of this data.

Also read: Are light products healthy? The pros and cons in a row

'Possibly carcinogenic'