The Controversy Surrounding Aspartame: Health Risks and Cancer Concerns

The World Health Organization's International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) is expected to declare that aspartame, an artificial sweetener used in numerous food and beverage products, is "possibly carcinogenic to humans." The IARC's findings will be released on July 14. While the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved aspartame for use in food products and considers it safe, questions about its safety have arisen over the years. Some studies suggest a possible association between aspartame consumption and type 2 diabetes, mood disorders, and mental stress, but the link to cancer remains inconclusive. Other sweeteners, such as erythritol, have also faced scrutiny for potential health risks.