July 14 (Reuters) – Aspartame, one of the world’s most popular sweeteners, has been deemed a “possible carcinogen” by two groups linked to the World Health Organization, though it remains safe for consumption at already-agreed levels.
The sugar substitute, used in products from diet sodas to sugar-free yoghurts and cough drops, is a combination of two amino acids – phenylalanine and aspartic.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration, which approved aspartame in 1974, advises that products carry a warning label for Phenylketonurics – people with a rare genetic disorder who have difficulty in breaking down phenylalanine.
Below are some food and beverage companies that mention aspartame on their product label:
Source: US FDA, NCBI, company websites
Reporting by Granth Vanaik, Juveria Tabassum and Savyata Mishra in Bengaluru; Editing by Shailesh Kuber
Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.
Factbox: Food and beverage products that mention aspartame on their labels
