The Canadian Cancer Society is recommending that people stay within existing daily limits of aspartame consumption and is encouraging more studies on the artificial sweetener after the World Health Organization deemed it 鈥減ossibly carcinogenic.鈥�
The classification 鈥渕eans that there鈥檚 limited evidence suggesting that it may cause cancer in humans and that additional research is needed,鈥� said Elizabeth Holmes, director of health policy at the Canadian Cancer Society, in an interview on Friday.
Holmes said the society welcomes research proposals on aspartame and will consider funding them.
Two WHO-affiliated agencies conducted two independent reviews to assess health risks associated with consumption of aspartame, which is commonly found in diet beverages, gum and sugar-free sweet treats such as syrup or gelatin dessert.
In reviewing available studies in both humans and animals, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) and the Food and Agriculture Organization Joint Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) found limited evidence that aspartame could be associated with a type of liver cancer.But the findings could not rule out the possibility that other variables might account for the link.
Better studies, including randomized controlled trials, are needed to determine more definitively whether or not aspartame causes cancer, the study summary said.
There was 鈥渘o convincing evidence鈥� to suggest current recommendations on safely eating or drinking aspartame should be changed, it said.
Health Canada and the WHO both recommend a daily limit of 40 mg of aspartame per kilogram of body weight.
A WHO news release breaks it down: since a can of diet soda contains about 200 鈥� 300 mg of aspartame, an adult who weighs 70 kg would need to consume more than nine to 14 cans per day to exceed that limit.
David Ma, a professor of nutritional sciences at the University of Guelph, said the daily aspartame consumption of most Canadians likely falls within that limit.
鈥淯nfortunately, there are probably a few individuals drinking (above) that level. So those would be the ones that should be most concerned about their intake,鈥� Ma said.
In an emailed statement, Health Canada said it will review the research and 鈥渄etermine whether action is needed for aspartame in Canada based on the scientific data in the full reports.鈥�
The WHO has four classification levels for items assessed for their potential to cause cancer: carcinogenic to humans, probably carcinogenic to humans, possibly carcinogenic to humans, and not classifiable as to its carcinogenicity to humans.
Those levels are based on how strong the evidence is that something, including food, drink, chemicals and environmental hazards, is linked with cancer. The classification levels aren鈥檛 a statement about the 鈥渄egree of risk鈥� of developing cancer. The risk often varies with the amount consumed or levels of exposure. The type of cancer the food or drink is linked to also varies.
Tobacco, alcohol and processed meat are among more than 120 items currently classified as carcinogenic on the WHO鈥檚 website. There are more than 90 items listed as 鈥減robable鈥� carcinogens, including red meat.
When it comes to 鈥減ossible鈥� carcinogens such as aspartame, more than 320 items are listed. They include many chemicals, such as chloroform and lead.
It鈥檚 important to think of substances listed as carcinogenic, probably carcinogenic or possibly carcinogenic as 鈥渉azards鈥� rather than 鈥渞isks,鈥� Ma said.
For example, driving a car is inherently a hazard, he said. But the risk of injury is lowered by actions that we take.
鈥淲e accept that because overall, on a daily basis, millions and millions of people drive and the risk is relatively low because we put on our seat belt, we follow the rules of the road, we do not drive dangerously at high speeds,鈥� Ma said.
Similarly, aspartame is a 鈥渉azard鈥� but 鈥渢he level of risk is low鈥� if we don鈥檛 consume too much, he said.
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