Artificial sweeteners in common sodas can cause cancer.

Aspartame, one of the most common artificial sweeteners found in soft drinks, will reportedly be declared carcinogenic by the World Health Organization (WHO) in July. According to Reuters.

BREAKING: Aspartame, one of the world’s most common artificial sweeteners, will be declared a probable carcinogen by the WHO next month, two sources familiar with the process say. clarified.https://t.co/QuGvmyY5FM

— Marie Oaks (@TheMarieOakes) June 29, 2023

Aspartame will be considered “possibly carcinogenic to humans” by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), the cancer research arm of the WHO. This artificial sweetener is used in products such as Coca-Cola’s diet soda, Mars’ Extra chewing gum, and some Snapple drinks.

The purpose of the IRAC ruling is to determine whether a product is dangerous. It does not take into account how much of the product is safe for consumption. (Related: FDA announces recall of Valentine’s chocolate sold at Target)

The WHO Food Additives Committee, the WHO Joint Expert Committee on Food and Agriculture Food Additives (JECFA), is also considering the use of aspartame.

The findings of both groups will be published on July 14, the same day the IARC is expected to announce its decision on artificial sweeteners.

“To avoid public confusion and concerns, we ask that both organizations work together to review aspartame,” Nozomi Tomita, head of Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, told WHO Deputy Director-General Susannah Jacob in March. Stated. 27 The person who saw the letter Reuters.

Aspartame was considered safe for human consumption from 1981 until very recently. according to the daily mail. This is an artificial sweetener that is 200 times sweeter than sugar and is commonly found in products marketed as “diet” or “sugar-free.”

There have been claims for several years that aspartame causes cancer. According to the American Cancer Society. However, this product has not yet been officially declared carcinogenic.

of Food and Drug Administration (FDA) It previously concluded that the use of aspartame as an all-purpose sweetener is safe. The FDA tested and approved the safety of aspartame during this time.

The decision to declare aspartame a carcinogen may prompt more research into the ingredient, but it could also stimulate debate about the role of global health organizations in regulating health concerns.