Health
Aspartame defended by industry experts after cancer risk warning: ‘Limited evidence’
The World Health Organization (WHO) released its official statement this week on the potential health risks of aspartame, with a committee classifying the non-sugar, low-calorie sweetener as “possibly carcinogenic to humans.”
Many industry experts, however, are speaking out in defense of aspartame, which is commonly used in diet sodas, chewing gum, some dairy products and many other low-calorie foods and beverages.
The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), a cancer-focused organization within WHO, was the agency that called out the sweetener’s potential cancer risk.
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The IARC uses five different levels of cancer risk: Group 1, “carcinogenic to humans”; Group 2A, “Probably carcinogenic to humans”; Group 2B: “Possibly carcinogenic to humans”; Group 3, “Unclassifiable as to carcinogenicity in humans”; and Group 4, “Probably not carcinogenic to humans.”
Aspartame was placed in Group 2B based on “limited evidence” of causing cancer in humans and animals — particularly a type of liver cancer, the press release stated.
A WHO committee has classified aspartame, the non-sugar, low-calorie sweetener, as “possibly carcinogenic to humans.” (iStock)
In the same announcement, the Joint Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA), another group within WHO, seemed to contradict the IARC’s classification.
“JECFA also considered the evidence on cancer risk, in animal and human studies, and concluded that the evidence of an association between aspartame consumption and cancer in humans is not convincing,” the press release stated.
The acceptable daily intake (ADI) of aspartame remains 40 milligrams per kilogram of body weight, JECFA also said. That amount is the equivalent of nine cans of 12-ounce diet soda per day for a 150-pound person.
(The FDA recommends an even higher ADI, at 50 milligrams per kilogram of body weight.)
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“Our results do not indicate that occasional consumption should pose a risk to most consumers,” Dr. Francesco Branca, director of the Department of Nutrition and Food Safety at the WHO, stated during a press conference in Geneva.
Dr. Mona S. Jhaveri, a biotech scientist and cancer researcher in Ridgefield, Connecticut, told Fox News Digital that the likelihood of getting cancer depends on the types and the number of carcinogens that one is exposed to, as well as genetic factors.
“Our results do not indicate that occasional consumption should pose a risk to most consumers.”
“Carcinogens can work either alone or in combination with other substances,” she said.
Often, she added, “people who are subject to multiple carcinogens can increase their risk of getting cancer exponentially.”
Industry experts speak up for aspartame
Many industry experts maintain that aspartame is still safe for consumption — including the FDA, which released a statement refuting the cancer risk.
“The FDA disagrees with IARC’s conclusion that these studies support classifying aspartame as a possible carcinogen to humans,” the statement read.
“FDA scientists reviewed the scientific information included in IARC’s review in 2021 when it was first made available and identified significant shortcomings in the studies on which IARC relied.”
Aspartame is commonly used in diet sodas, chewing gum, some dairy products and many other low-calorie foods and beverages. (Getty Images)
“We note that JECFA did not raise safety concerns for aspartame under the current levels of use and did not change the acceptable daily intake (ADI).”
Additional agencies, including the European Food Safety Authority and Health Canada, have also deemed aspartame to be safe at the current recommended levels, the FDA added.
“The FDA disagrees with IARC’s conclusion that these studies support classifying aspartame as a possible carcinogen to humans.”
“Aspartame is one of the most studied food additives in the human food supply,” the FDA stated.
“FDA scientists do not have safety concerns when aspartame is used under the approved conditions.”
Dr. Arnold Baskies, a New Jersey-based surgical oncologist and past chairman of the National Board of Directors of the American Cancer Society — he’s also a member of the Coalition for Safe Food and Beverage Choices Expert Advisory Committee — pointed out that the WHO agencies, IARC and JECFA, reviewed previous research. They did not review new evidence.
“The WHO Joint Expert Committee on Food Additives’ (JECFA) review says that aspartame is safe for human consumption,” Baskies said in a statement provided to Fox News Digital. “JECFA is the authoritative international agency when it comes to food safety.”
The FDA relies on JECFA’s assessments as part of its process of determining the safety and risks of foods and beverages, Baskies noted.
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“It is irresponsible to needlessly scare or confuse people,” he said. “If there was any cause for concern, they would have adjusted the current acceptable daily intake (ADI).”
The Calorie Control Council (CCC) in Atlanta, Georgia, also spoke out in defense of aspartame as a safe food additive.
“The JECFA ruling not only confirms the four decades of science concluding aspartame is safe, but also provides real-life context around the safe consumption of this ingredient,” said Robert Rankin, president of the CCC, in a statement sent to Fox News Digital.
“It is irresponsible to needlessly scare or confuse people.”
Any risk is highly unlikely given the JECFA’s guidelines for recommended daily intake, Rankin also said.
“The average 150-pound person would need to consume about 14 12-oz. cans of diet beverages or about 74 packets of aspartame-containing tabletop sweetener every day over the course of their life to raise any safety concern,” Rankin said.
“Obviously, that level of consumption is not realistic or recommended, nor is it aligned with the intended use of these ingredients.”
The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), a cancer-focused organization within WHO, was the agency that actually called out the sweetener’s potential cancer risk. (REUTERS/Denis Balibouse/File Photo)
Regarding IARC describing aspartame as “possibly cancer-causing,” Rankin stated that IARC is not a regulatory agency or food safety authority, and said that its classification is “misleading, inaccurate and [constitutes] fearmongering.”
He said, “IARC looks for substances that could potentially cause cancer without considering actual dietary intake, and has found many things, such as drinking hot water and working at night, to be probably carcinogenic.”
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“It is not only wrong, but potentially damaging to certain populations to position IARC’s report alongside true scientific and regulatory agencies like JECFA, the Food and Drug Administration, and the European Food Safety Authority,” Rankin added.
Dr. Ernest Hawk, head of the Division of Cancer Prevention and Population Sciences at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, also spoke to Fox News Digital about aspartame’s safety.
“The average 150-pound person would need to consume about 14 12-oz. cans of diet beverages … every day over the course of their life to raise any safety concern.”
“IARC classified aspartame as ‘possibly carcinogenic to humans’ based on limited evidence for cancer in humans and experimental animals, and limited evidence that it might behave as a carcinogen,” he said.
“Because all of the evidence was limited, aspartame was added to WHO’s list of possible carcinogens.”
The list begins with 126 agents known to be carcinogenic in humans (including tobacco and alcohol) and 94 agents that are “probably carcinogenic” — followed by 322 agents that are “possibly carcinogenic,” Hawk explained.
“Aspartame is one of the most studied food additives in the human food supply,” the FDA stated. “FDA scientists do not have safety concerns when aspartame is used under the approved conditions.” (iStock)
“Aspartame will now be included in that final group, but keep in mind that none of those have been convincingly proven to cause cancer,” he added.
The FDA, the National Cancer Institute, the American Institute for Cancer Research and the American Cancer Society all have evaluated the same evidence in the past, and all of them concluded that there was no clear evidence that artificial (non-nutritive) sweeteners cause cancer when consumed at typical levels, Hawk said.
Experts called for additional research on the long-term health risks of consuming non-sugar sweeteners.
While he believes that the WHO agencies did a careful review and have the public’s best interest in mind, Hawk called for additional research on the long-term health risks of consuming non-sugar sweeteners.
Should you avoid aspartame?
The FDA and other health agencies do not agree that aspartame is a cancer risk, so some medical professionals recommend using sugar instead of artificial sweeteners.
“Although it’s approved by regulatory bodies, potential risk factors are associated with preferring aspartame over sugar,” noted Jhaveri.
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“Sensitivities or allergies to aspartame can result in adverse reactions, and excessive consumption may contribute to weight gain due to heightened cravings for sweet edibles,” she said.
For some people, aspartame may cause physical symptoms that include headaches, dizziness, digestive ailments and allergic responses, Jhaveri noted.
“Avoiding aspartame when possible and opting for natural sugars in fruits and vegetables is prudent,” she said.
People with a rare inherited disorder called phenylketonuria (PKU) should avoid aspartame, per medical experts. (iStock)
In May, the WHO advised against the use of non-sugar sweeteners like aspartame for the purposes of controlling body weight or lowering the risk of non-communicable diseases.
“Replacing free sugars with NSS does not help with weight control in the long term,” said Branca, the WHO’s director for nutrition and food safety, in a press release at the time.
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For the general public, Hawk recommended “paying attention to the science” as it continues to develop regarding the possible health consequences of artificial sweeteners.
“In the meantime, continue to work on consistently eating a balanced, healthy diet that contains whole foods that are high in nutrient density,” he suggested.
People with a rare inherited disorder called phenylketonuria (PKU) should avoid aspartame, medical experts say.
Those with PKU don’t have the enzyme to break down an amino acid called phenylalanine, so it builds up in the body.
Consuming foods and drinks with aspartame can cause dangerous levels of phenylalanine that can lead to serious health issues, according to the Mayo Clinic’s website.
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Aspartame-containing products will include a warning on the label stating “PHENYLKETONURICS: CONTAINS PHENYLALANINE.”
Anyone with PKU should avoid any food or drink with this warning.
Chronic diseases have long been plaguing Americans, which HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has called an “epidemic.”
The MAHA Commission, which Kennedy chairs, released a report on Thursday assessing chronic diseases, particularly pertaining to children.
An estimated 133 million Americans suffer from at least one chronic illness, according to the American Hospital Association.
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“The report shines a necessary spotlight on a crisis that has long been ignored: skyrocketing rates of obesity, diabetes, autoimmune disease, developmental issues and mental health challenges,” Kelly McKenna, CEO of the coalition End Chronic Disease, who was at the White House for the release, told Fox News Digital.
“Americans are living shorter, sicker lives despite record healthcare spending that exceeds that of other developed nations by orders of magnitude,” she said. “The MAHA agenda confronts that disconnect head-on.”
The MAHA Commission released a report on Thursday assessing chronic diseases among children. (Francis Chung/Politico/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
McKenna added, “With Americans increasingly aware of the role that factors such as ultraprocessed foods, environmental toxins, stress, trauma and poor sleep play in chronic disease, the demand for action transcends partisanship.”
Most common diseases in America
Andy Tanner, D.O., a family medicine physician in West Virginia, said he’s seeing more chronic illnesses in patients, noting that his state is the “oldest and fattest in the country.” He was also at the White House on Thursday.
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“The big things we see a lot are diabetes, hypertension and obesity, kind of ‘the trifecta,’” he told Fox News Digital.
Some 38.4 million Americans had diabetes in 2021, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), with excess sugar causing the common symptoms of fatigue, blurry vision, hunger and thirst.
“Americans are living shorter, sicker lives despite record healthcare spending.”
Tanner works with his diabetic patients to change their diets and improve their blood sugar levels.
“[But the] sad thing is, we’re just surrounded by bad food,” he said. “It’s hard to make good choices of what we eat, and we’re all guilty of it.”
Over 350,000 children have been diagnosed with diabetes, and its prevalence among teens is more than one in four, according to the new MAHA report. (iStock)
Many people think of diabetes as being just a “sugar disease,” he pointed out, but it can become a vascular issue as it progresses, often leading to coronary disease or stroke.
The doctor noted that he is seeing “younger and younger” patients with diabetes.
Over 350,000 children have been diagnosed with the disease, and its prevalence among teens is more than one in four, according to the MAHA report.
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Given its association with “bad food,” diabetes goes “hand in hand” with obesity, according to Tanner.
The MAHA report linked rising obesity rates with the consumption of ultraprocessed foods — which comprise nearly 70% of American children’s calorie consumption.
Tanner said obesity can lead to the diagnosis of other chronic illnesses, including hypertension (high blood pressure).
Some 38.4 million Americans had diabetes in 2021, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (iStock)
“Sometimes people with hypertension come in and report fatigue, headaches, sometimes blurred vision, sometimes with their blood pressure very high,” he told Fox News Digital. “They can have some very serious symptoms of stroke or heart attack.”
Hypertension is known as the “silent killer,” Tanner said, because many people don’t know they have the condition.
Smart actions to take
In most cases, resolving chronic illnesses starts with getting regular physical activity and eating the right foods, Tanner said.
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“Diet and exercise are so important,” he said. “Those are such easy things for physicians to prescribe, but it’s much harder for patients to accomplish.”
He added, “[It’s] sometimes difficult to come home and prepare a good, healthy meal, and it’s easier to reach for things that are not healthy.”
“If our bodies aren’t healthy, our brains will never be,” said one health expert. (iStock)
Psychiatrist Daniel Amen, M.D., CEO of BrainMD in Los Angeles, was also in attendance during the MAHA report announcement.
“Chronic illness devastates mental health,” Amen told Fox News Digital. “It increases stress hormones that damage the brain, disrupts sleep (which turns off 700 health-promoting genes), and increases inflammation, which can lead to anxiety and depression,” he cautioned.
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“If our bodies aren’t healthy, our brains will never be.”
When it comes to diet, Amen suggested, “Only choose foods you love that love you back and are good for your brain.”
The MAHA Commission, run by RFK Jr., is urging better nutrition and healthier diets, given that chronic diseases affect 133 million Americans. (iStock; Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
McKenna noted that the MAHA Commission’s findings “affirm preventative solutions.”
“Better nutrition, cleaner food systems, and systematic transparency — as well as innovation — are not just possible, but urgently necessary to protect the health of our children and the future of the nation,” she added.
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“Army Strong” is more than just a tagline — for soldiers, it’s a requirement for duty.
The U.S. Army requires that all active-duty soldiers prove their physical prowess by passing a rigorous fitness test. There have been multiple versions of the test over the years — and the Army recently announced that a new version has been adopted.
On June 1, 2025, the military branch will roll out its new Army Fitness Test (ACFT) as a replacement for the current Army Combat Fitness Test (ACFT).
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The new test — which is based on “18 months of data analysis and feedback from thousands of test iterations” — will introduce updated scoring standards that emphasize “readiness and combat effectiveness,” according to an Army press release.
Soldiers will have until Jan. 1, 2026, to meet the new AFT requirements without facing “adverse actions.”
The U.S. Army requires that all active-duty soldiers prove their physical prowess by passing a rigorous fitness test. (iStock)
AFT scores are recorded during basic training for soldiers and initial training for officers, the Army states on its website.
Active-duty soldiers are required to complete the test twice a year, while soldiers in the Army Reserve and Army National Guard must record scores once a year.
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“The AFT is designed to improve soldier readiness and ensure physical standards [and] prepare soldiers for the demands of modern warfare,” said Sgt. Maj. Christopher Mullinax, senior enlisted leader, deputy chief of staff for Operations, Army Headquarters, in the release.
“It emphasizes holistic fitness over event-specific training and is grounded in performance.”
Recruits undergo physical training in the training center of The Third Separate Assault Brigade on September 14, 2024, in Dnipro, Ukraine. (Getty Images)
Scoring requirements are more demanding for the new test, with soldiers in combat roles held to the highest standards.
“Combat standards are sex-neutral for the 21 direct combat roles, a change designed to ensure fairness and operational readiness,” the release states.
5 components of the test
The AFT consists of the following five events, as described on the Army’s website.
1. Three-repetition maximum deadlift
In this challenge, the soldier must lift the maximum weight possible three times using a 60-pound hex bar and plates.
This move assesses muscular strength, balance and flexibility.
“It’s doable — but only with smart, progressive training.”
“Deadlifts require a person to recruit glute and hamstring strength in order to lift a barbell off the ground to waist height,” said Miles Hill, a certified personal trainer and boxing instructor at Rumble in New York City. “It is the most effective technique for picking heavy weights off the ground.”
The deadlift can also be dangerous for civilians if they use improper form, warned Dr. Hooman Melamed, an orthopedic spine surgeon and sport medicine expert from Beverly Hills.
Army soldiers must complete a timed two-mile run on a flat outdoor course in a test of aerobic endurance. (iStock)
“If your posture or form is off, the risk to your lower back and hips is high — it could be a career-ending injury for some,” he told Fox News Digital.
2. Hand-release push-up
The soldier must complete as many hand-release push-ups as possible in two minutes, using proper technique.
“Hand release push-ups require a person to drop all the way to the ground, lift their hands in the air for a second, and then push themselves back up to high plank,” said Hill, who is also a second-degree black belt in Taekwondo.
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Melamed noted that while hand-release push-ups are great for building upper body strength, if the person is not already strong, the sudden force can damage the shoulders.
The hand-release push-up tests muscular endurance and flexibility.
3. Sprint-drag-carry
With the sprint-drag-carry (SDC), the soldier is tasked with completing five 50-meter shuttles (sprint, drag, lateral, carry, sprint) as quickly as possible, using two 40-pound kettlebells and a 90-pound sled.
“The sprint-drag-carry is probably the toughest sequence here, since it requires explosive strength, muscular endurance and cardiovascular endurance,” Hill said.
“Combat standards are sex-neutral for the 21 direct combat roles, a change designed to ensure fairness and operational readiness,” the Army’s release states. (Cecilie_Arcurs)
Melamed calls the SDC a “brutal test of speed and explosive power.”
“If you’re not conditioned, tearing a hamstring or pulling something mid-run can happen,” he said.
4. Plank
The soldier must maintain a proper plank position for as long as possible, testing muscular endurance and balance.
“A plank is an ultimate test of core strength and endurance, as it requires a person to hold their body weight for as long as they can,” said Hill. “It can be challenging, but it is the time requirement that determines the challenge.”
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Melamed noted that while this move looks simple, holding a proper plank for time is extremely challenging. “It exposes weaknesses in the back, core and shoulder girdle.”
5. Two-mile run
The soldier must complete a timed two-mile run on a flat outdoor course in a test of aerobic endurance.
“Two-mile runs are relatively easy for any able-bodied human — however, the time constraints are what makes it challenging,” Hill said.
With the sprint-drag-carry (SDC), the soldier is tasked with completing five 50-meter shuttles (sprint, drag, lateral, carry, sprint) as quickly as possible, using two 40-pound kettlebells and a 90-pound sled. (iStock)
The standing power throw event, which was part of the previous version of the test, is no longer included as a requirement.
“We eliminated the standing power throw because it wasn’t effectively promoting fitness and readiness as well as we would like,” Mullinax said.
“Furthermore, it presented an elevated risk of overuse injury and encouraged soldiers to focus on technique rather than demonstrating true power.”
How tough is it?
The toughness of a workout or fitness test is relative to the overall fitness of an individual, according to Dr. Jason Perry, M.D., primary care sports medicine physician with Baptist Health Orthopedic Care in Deerfield Beach, Florida.
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“Generally speaking, the AFT is challenging, but not impossible for the average person with a basic fitness foundation,” Perry, who is unaffiliated with the Army, told Fox News Digital.
“It’s designed to test full-body strength, muscular endurance, speed, agility and cardiovascular stamina — all elements essential for combat readiness, but also relevant to functional fitness for civilians.”
Compared to a typical gym workout, the AFT is more demanding because it combines different physical domains into one test, he said.
“Compared to elite athletic training, it’s moderate — but not easy,” Perry added.
In the three-repetition maximum deadliftIn this challenge, the soldier must lift the maximum weight possible three times using a 60-pound hex bar and plates. (iStock)
For civilians who regularly strength train, run or do functional workouts (like CrossFit or HIIT), this test is well within reach, he said.
For a civilian who exercises three to four times a week, the AFT is “realistically achievable” with focused training over an eight- to 12-week period.
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“About 30 to 50% of healthy, recreationally active adults could likely pass it with little to moderate training,” he predicted. “Sedentary adults or those with chronic conditions would have a harder time and would likely need a focused eight- to 12-week (or possibly longer) conditioning plan to pass.”
Melamed wasn’t quite as optimistic, estimating that less than 5% of civilians could pass the AFT.
“If you try this unprepared, you could get seriously hurt.”
“These aren’t weekend-warrior workouts — this is military-level conditioning,” he told Fox News Digital. “You have to work your way up to this level of intensity training.”
The expert also noted that there is a mental component to the test, but said mindset alone isn’t enough.
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“If you try this unprepared, you could get seriously hurt,” he cautioned. “It’s doable — but only with smart, progressive training. You have to work up to it gradually.”
“And this test is as much about strategy and recovery as it is about raw strength.”
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