The Controversy Surrounding Aspartame: Cancer Risk or Safe Sweetener?

The World Health Organization's cancer agency, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), has classified the artificial sweetener aspartame as a "possible" cause of cancer. However, a separate expert panel selected by WHO and the Food and Agriculture Organization still considers aspartame safe in limited quantities. Aspartame is widely used in diet soda and various other foods. The IARC's evaluation was based on studies that found "limited" evidence linking aspartame to liver cancer. The guidance on aspartame use remains unchanged, with WHO advising moderation rather than complete avoidance. The FDA and WHO experts maintain that aspartame is safe when consumed within recommended limits.