Back in July of 2023, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Joint Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) (classified aspartame as possibly carcinogenic to humans. The IARC classified aspartame as possibly carcinogenic to humans (Group 2B) on the basis of limited evidence for cancer in humans (specifically, for hepatocellular carcinoma, which is a type of liver cancer).
Aspartame is an artificial (chemical) sweetener, about 200X sweeter than sugar. It is widely used in various food and beverage products since the 1980s. Food products containing aspartame include diet drinks, chewing gum, gelatin, ice cream, dairy products such as yogurt, breakfast cereal, toothpaste, tabletop sweeteners sold under brand names including Equal and Nutrasweet and medications such as cough drops and chewable vitamins.
Regardless of the suspicion that it may cause cancer, previous research indicates that it may also increase cortisol levels and alter the activity of the microbes responsible for the breakdown of food in the digestive tract
However, the JECFA reaffirmed the acceptable daily intake of 40 mg/kg body weight, meaning that although this is concerning, if you’re only consuming aspartame containing foods in moderation there is nothing to worry about.
https://www.who.int/news/item/14-07-2023-aspartame-hazard-and-risk-assessment-results-released
