30-6-2023 (SINGAPORE) From Coca-Cola diet sodas to some Snapple drinks, aspartame has long been a widely used sweetener. However, it is now set to be classified as “possibly carcinogenic to humans” by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), the cancer research arm of the World Health Organization (WHO). This listing is expected to take effect in July and marks the first time aspartame will be categorized as a potential cancer-causing substance.
Discovered in 1965 by American chemist James Schlatter, aspartame is an artificial sweetener that is approximately 200 times sweeter than regular table sugar. It received approval from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1974 for use as a tabletop sweetener and as an additive in various food products, including chewing gum, breakfast cereals, and dry food bases.
Aspartame can be found in a wide range of products, including soft drinks, gelatin, confectionery, desserts, and sugar-free cough drops. It is also used to enhance the flavor of baked and canned foods, powdered drink mixes, candy, and puddings.
The popularity of aspartame in sugar-free drinks stems from its intense sweetness combined with its low calorie content and lack of a bitter aftertaste commonly associated with other artificial sweeteners like saccharin. As a result, it gained traction among health-conscious consumers who sought alternatives to traditional sugar.
Apart from aspartame, there are five other artificial sweeteners authorized by a WHO expert committee on food additives, including saccharin, sucralose, and neotame.
In Singapore, aspartame is a commonly used sugar substitute and is readily available. Over 90 countries, including the UK, Spain, France, Italy, Denmark, Germany, Australia, and New Zealand, have reviewed aspartame and deemed it safe for human consumption. However, it is advised to be consumed in moderation, according to the SingHealth website, HealthXchange.
The listing of aspartame as “possibly carcinogenic to humans” by the IARC raises concerns and calls for further examination of its potential health effects. Aspartame’s widespread usage in various food and beverage products makes it important to closely monitor its impact on human health and explore alternatives if necessary.
