WHO Confirms Aspartame as Possible Carcinogen, but Acceptable Daily Intake Remains Unchanged
However, FDA and industry groups disagree with WHO's determination.
The World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer (WHO’s IARC) has officially declared popular artificial sweetener aspartame as “possibly carcinogenic to humans” based on limited evidence. At the same time, the acceptable daily intake (ADI) of 40 milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg) of body weight remains unchanged, having been reaffirmed by the Joint Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations/WHO Joint Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA).
Meanwhile, not all officials agree with IARC's determination; specifically, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has expressed its dissent. Industry groups have also shared their disapproval with the conclusion.