This is how much aspartame you should consume per day

The artificial sweetener called aspartame is used in thousands of products including other diet fizzy drinks, ice cream and chewing gum.

In a report released late on Thursday (July 13), the WHO’s International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classified aspartame as “possibly carcinogenic to humans”.

The IARC has two more serious categories, “probably carcinogenic to humans” and “carcinogenic to humans”.

Both studies mentioned “limited evidence” of aspartame being a 'possible' cause of cancer and called for more research (Image: Getty)

What is aspartame and what products is it in?

Widely used as an artificial sweetener instead of sugar since the 1980s, aspartame is used in diet drinks, chewing gum, gelatine, ice cream, dairy products.

This includes items such as yoghurt, breakfast cereal, toothpaste and medications such as cough drops and chewable vitamins.

How much aspartame can I consume a day?

The Food and Agricultural Organisation’s Joint Expert Committee on Food Additives, who carried out a study maintained its advice that it is safe for a person to drink 0-40mg per kilogram of body weight each day.

The WHO said a person weighing 70kg would need to consume more than between nine and 14 cans of diet soft drink per day to exceed the daily guideline.

Items with aspartame in include yoghurt, breakfast cereal, toothpaste and medications such as cough drops and chewable vitamins (Image: Getty)

Dr Francesco Branca, director of the WHO’s department of nutrition and food safety, said: “Cancer is one of the leading causes of death globally. Every year, one in six people die from cancer. Science is continuously expanding to assess the possible initiating or facilitating factors of cancer, in the hope of reducing these numbers and the human toll.

“The assessments of aspartame have indicated that, while safety is not a major concern at the doses which are commonly used, potential effects have been described that need to be investigated by more and better studies.

“We’re not advising consumers to stop consuming (aspartame) altogether. We’re just advising a bit of moderation.”

Both studies mentioned “limited evidence” and called for more research into the issue.

The WHO said it and the IARC would continue to monitor findings.

🍬Aspartame is an artificial low-calorie sweetener, which some experts say is about 200 times sweeter than sugar.

It is often found in a range of products, including Diet Coke and Fanta Zero, as well as Wrigley's Extra chewing gum

— Sky News (@SkyNews) June 30, 2023

Harriet Burt, senior policy and international projects officer for World Action on Salt, Sugar & Health based at Queen Mary University of London, said the report emphasised the need for a new approach by food and drink manufacturers.

She said: “This new report from the WHO shows that companies need to reduce the overall sweetness of their products rather than relying so much on sweeteners.

“When done correctly, reformulation can gradually remove excess sugars, salt and saturated fat from foods to improve their overall healthiness without the need for replacement ingredients such as non-sugar sweeteners.”

She continued: “Worryingly, sugar consumption in the UK is still double the recommended levels due to a food system that promotes overconsumption of excessively sweet products high in salt and saturated fat. This is why reducing sugar consumption should remain a priority.

“Based on recent WHO reports, it is clear that the UK government urgently needs a comprehensive strategy to reduce not just sugar but overall product sweetness, including the use of non-sugar sweeteners like aspartame.”