FDA Disagrees with WHO on Aspartame's Cancer Link, Assures Safety

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has stated that the widely used soda sweetener aspartame is safe, disagreeing with a World Health Organization (WHO) finding that it may cause cancer in humans. The FDA argues that the studies used to reach the WHO's conclusion had significant shortcomings. Aspartame is used as a substitute for sugar in numerous products worldwide, including diet sodas. The WHO's classification of aspartame as a possible carcinogen is based on limited evidence, and the FDA, Health Canada, and the European Food Safety Authority have all concluded that aspartame is safe at current permitted levels.