A type of low-calorie artificial sweetener has hit the headlines recently, because it is set to become classed as “possibly carcinogenic” by the World Health Organisation (WHO) this month.
WHO's cancer research unit is preparing to release their review in July, which looked into aspartame and its effects on the human body. This classification means there is “some evidence” that it can cause cancer in humans, although the evidence is not conclusive.
Used to replace sugar in around 6,000 diet foods and drinks, aspartame is an ingredient in many popular carbonated drinks and sports drinks, as well as chewing gum and some yoghurts.
