The sweetener aspartame, which is found in a number of different foods such as sugar-free cola drinks, may be classified as "possibly carcinogenic". The announcement could come this month.

The sweetener aspartame, which is found in a number of different foods such as sugar-free cola drinks, may be classified as "possibly carcinogenic". The announcement could come this month, sources told Reuters.

It is the WHO body "International Agency for Research on Cancer" (IARC) that is expected to classify Aspartame (E951) as "possibly carcinogenic".

According to Reuters, the IARC does not take into account how much of the sweetener a person might consume. Advice to individuals instead comes from another branch within WHO, JECFA (the Joint WHO and Food and Agriculture Organization's Expert Committee on Food Additives), together with guidelines from national authorities.

JECFA will also evaluate apsartam again this year, according to Reuters. Notice from both JECFA and IARC is expected to arrive on July 14, 2023.

Aspartame has previously been evaluated by JECFA - but now it is time for an updated report. According to previous guidelines, a person weighing 60 kg can consume the equivalent of four liters of soda or 2.4 grams of aspartame per day.

The fact that the IARC classifies aspartame as possibly carcinogenic is not really very important to the public, at the moment. But it can certainly lead to pressure and a renewed debate about possible alternatives to the additive.

According to, among others, the Swedish Food Agency - there are currently no known risks with consuming aspartame, as long as one does not have the congenital disease phenylketonuria.

What is Aspartame (E951)?

Aspartame is a sweetener that can be used instead of sugar in diet products, sugar-free drinks and foods. E-number is E951. It is mainly included in finished food products but is also marketed as a table sweetener.

Aspartame is a sweetener that is about 150-200 times sweeter than sugar. Aspartame has about the same amount of energy per gram as sugar, but thanks to the high sweetness, you don't need to use as much to achieve the sweet taste. It has no caries impact and no blood sugar or insulin response.

When Aspartame breaks down in the body, methanol (wood alcohol), aspartic acid and the essential amino acid phenylalanine are formed. Drinks that have phenylalanine must be labeled with the text "Contains a source of phenylalanine" to warn people with the hereditary disease phenylketonuria (PKU). They cannot break down phenylalanine and must therefore avoid consuming aspartame.

Aspartame was discovered by accident by chemist Jim Schlatter, in 1965. Jim was developing an ulcer medicine and accidentally licked his fingers and discovered the sweet taste.