In the report released on July 14 IARC classified aspartame as possibly carcinogenic to humans (IARC Group 2B) and JECFA reaffirmed the acceptable daily intake of 40 mg/kg body weight.
IARC classified aspartame as possibly carcinogenic to humans (Group 2B) on the basis of limited evidence for cancer in humans (specifically, for hepatocellular carcinoma, which is a type of liver cancer).
There is “limited evidence” for carcinogenicity in humans, from non-sugar sweetener aspartame, said an assessment of its health impact report released by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) and the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Joint Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA).
The committee, therefore, reaffirmed that it is safe for a person to consume within this limit per day.
For example, with a can of diet soft drink containing 200 or 300 mg of aspartame, an adult weighing 70kg would need to consume more than 9–14 cans per day to exceed the acceptable daily intake, assuming no other intake from other food sources.
In its official release WHO noted that cancer is one of the leading causes of death globally. Every year, 1 in 6 people die from cancer.
