Aspartame, one of the most widely used sweeteners in the world and a component of Coca-Cola diet drinks, is a “possible carcinogen,” but it is still safe to ingest in moderation, according to two organisations affiliated with the World Health Organisation (WHO).

While the European regulatory agency suggests a somewhat lower ADI of 40 mg/kg/day, the FDA sets the recommended daily intake (ADI) for aspartame at 50 mg/kg/day.

The decisions are the result of two distinct WHO expert panels, one of which identifies the existence of evidence that a chemical is a possible hazard and the other of which evaluates the degree of risk that substance actually poses in the real world, according to Reuters. Speaking at a news conference, Francesco Branca, the chief of nutrition for WHO, advised people to prefer water when choosing a beverage over one that contains either aspartame or a sweetener.

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Aspartame was formerly classified as a “possible carcinogen” by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), which denotes that there is insufficient proof that a substance can cause cancer. It ignores the amount that a person would need to ingest in order to be at risk, which is taken into account by a different committee, the Geneva-based WHO and Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) Joint Committee on Food Additives (JECFA).

JECFA maintained to advise consumers to limit their daily aspartame use to under 40mg/kg of body weight on Friday despite claiming that it lacked compelling proof of the harm aspartame causes. It initially established this limit in 1981, and authorities all over the world provide identical instructions to their populations. The data connecting aspartame to cancer is weak, according to some scientists who were not involved in the reviews. Aspartame is safe and a good option for consumers who wish to cut sugar from their diets, according to associations in the food and beverage industry that commented on the rulings.

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Based on the average aspartame concentration, the WHO stated that the current consumption levels suggested, for example, that a person weighing 60-70kg would have to consume more than 9-14 cans of soda daily to break the limit. American scientist James Schlatter made aspartame his main focus of research in 1965. It became well-liked since it had no calories and no harsh aftertaste. It was given FDA approval in 1974 and is used as a tabletop sweetener as well as in cereals and chewing gum.

Coca-Cola’s Diet Coke is a well-known soft drink with aspartame in it. In addition, it can be found in sweets, gelatin, candy, and sugar-free cough drops. Additionally, it is utilised to improve the flavouring of baked and canned meals, powdered drink mixes, sweets and puddings.