Diet Coke drinkers were among those concerned by the news announced last month that one of its main ingredients is set to be officially classified as "possibly" posing a cancer risk.
Aspartame, a low-calorie sweetener that can also be found in sugar-free chewing gum, low-fat desserts and other soft drinks, has been widely used for decades as an alternative to sugar, which it is around 200 times sweeter than. However, recent reports suggest that the World Health Organisation is set to declare the common ingredient as "possibly carcinogenic to humans" after a ruling by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) later this month.
The news was met with alarm among those who enjoy Diet Coke and other products sweetened using aspartame - however, looking at the way the IARC classifies carcinogens may help to put some people's minds at rest. There are hundreds of everyday foods, drinks, occupations and more that have been determined as having an equal or higher risk than aspartame's expected classification - and some of them may surprise you, The Mirror reports.
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The IARC has three different categories: Group 1, 'carcinogenic to humans'; Group 2A, 'Probably carcinogenic to humans'; and Group 2B, 'Possibly carcinogenic to humans'. Aspartame is believed to be joining the group 2B list, which is the IARC's lowest-risk classification of carcinogens.
Group 1 contains 126 agents, many of which will be recognisable to most people as carcinogens with health campaigns in recent decades having widely publicised their links to cancer. This highest-risk group includes the following:
- Alcoholic beverages
- Tobacco
- Asbestos
- UV tanning devices
- Salted fish (Chinese-style)
- Welding fumes
- Occupational exposure as a firefighter
- Occupational exposure as a painter
Meanwhile, Group 2A contains 94 agents classed as 'probably carcinogenic' to humans. Some of the most common eating and drinking habits and occupations included in this group are as follows:
- Night shift work
- Consumption of red meat
- Drinking hot beverages above 65°C
- High-temperature frying
- Occupational exposure as a hairdresser or barber
And in Group 2B, the category aspartame is expected to be put into, there are currently 322 agents according to the IARC. This includes a range of everyday items and jobs, such as:
- Aloe vera (whole leaf extract)
- Carpentry and joinery
- Pickled vegetables (traditional Asian)
- Perineal use of talc-based powder
- Occupational exposure in textiles manufacturing
- Occupational exposure in dry cleaning
- Occupational exposure in printing processes
For context, there are more than 1,100 things listed across the Group 1, Group 2A and Group 2B categories. You can find the full list of classifications on the IARC website.
According to Professor Oliver Jones, an expert in chemistry at the RMIT University of Melbourne, "just because something may possibly cause cancer does not mean that it automatically does if you are exposed to it". He added: "The dose makes the poison".
Pharmacist Navid Sole echoed this notion, adding that it's more down to the amount we're consuming - and this relates to everyone on the list. He said: "Aspartame is found in chewing gums, fizzy drinks and food we consume such as ready meals and cakes.
"I believe it's more to do with the amount of aspartame a person consumes. As we always say: 'too much of something is never good'. The benefits of having some levels of aspartame is that it benefits calorie-conscious consumers, does not promote tooth decay and it enhances and extends flavours."
The pharmacist also advised: "Given the WHO warning, it's important not to presume that regular Coke is better for you to consume than Diet Coke - there are still risks associated with regular Coke, which is high in calories and can increase obesity risk which could lead to an increased cancer risk.
"The possible move of Diet Coke to 2B should not panic people and rather provide more awareness on the potential risks of consuming excessive amounts of Diet Coke. The change in classification can at least guide the public to make more of an informed decision on what they consume."
