The WHO Says Diet Soda Causes Cancer. Does It?

TL;DR

The World Health Organization has classified aspartame as a possible carcinogen, specifically for liver cancer, but there are conflicting studies and limitations to the evidence.

Transcript

you may have heard that a major International Health policy group has put in place some new warnings regarding artificial sweeteners and their potential to cause cancer you may also be dragging your diet soda out to the curb but before you do that I'd like to walk you through a little context around this story short version Don't Panic longer versi... Read More

Key Insights

• ♋ The World Health Organization has added aspartame to its list of possible cancer-causing substances, with a specific warning for liver cancer.
• 🥳 Studies on rats and mice have shown mixed results, with some suggesting an increased risk of cancer with aspartame consumption, while others argue that misdiagnosis and high doses played a role.
• ♋ A large longitudinal study on humans found no correlation between aspartame consumption and cancer, but a more recent study suggested a higher risk of breast cancer and cancers related to body weight.
• ⚾ The classification of substances by the World Health Organization is based on the number of studies suggesting a relationship with cancer, rather than the magnitude of the risk.
• 🦺 The Food and Drug Administration in the U.S. still considers aspartame safe within certain limits.

Questions & Answers

Q: Is aspartame classified as a carcinogen according to the World Health Organization?

Yes, the World Health Organization has classified aspartame as a possible carcinogen, specifically for liver cancer.

Q: What are the conflicting results of studies on the safety of aspartame?

Some studies have shown an increased risk of cancer in rats and mice exposed to high doses of aspartame, while a large longitudinal study on humans found no correlation between aspartame and cancer.

Q: How does the World Health Organization classify cancer risks?

The World Health Organization classifies cancer risks based on the number of studies suggesting a relationship between a substance and cancer, regardless of the magnitude of the risk.

Q: Should I stop consuming artificial sweeteners?

The decision to consume or avoid artificial sweeteners is a personal one. While the World Health Organization has classified aspartame as a possible carcinogen, the Food and Drug Administration in the U.S. still considers it safe within certain limits.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The World Health Organization recently added aspartame, an artificial sweetener, to its list of possible cancer-causing substances, with a specific warning for liver cancer.

• Studies have shown conflicting results on the safety of aspartame, with some suggesting a correlation between aspartame consumption and increased rates of cancer in rats and mice. However, a large longitudinal study on humans found no correlation between aspartame and cancer.

• The classification by the World Health Organization is based on the number of papers suggesting a relationship between a substance and cancer, rather than the magnitude of the risk.