The WHO Is About to Declare Aspartame a Possible Carcinogen

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Aspartame Faces New Scrutiny as Possible Carcinogen

Aspartame, one of the most widely used artificial sweeteners in the world, will be declared a possible carcinogen by the cancer research arm of the World Health Organization (WHO), Reuters reports.

The upcoming July ruling from the WHO group, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), will list aspartame as “possibly carcinogenic to humans.” The assessment considers all published evidence but does not account for the amount a person can safely consume.

Widespread Use and Lingering Concerns

It is ample cause for attention. The sugar substitute has long been a staple of low- or zero-calorie drinks like Diet Coke and is also used in thousands of other products, including ice cream, chewing gum, and cereal.

However, the classification of “possibly carcinogenic” only denotes that there is some evidence a substance can cause cancer and that the findings are considered inconclusive overall. Two categories sit above this: “probably carcinogenic,” indicating stronger evidence, and simply “carcinogenic,” meaning consensus on a proven link.

Those distinctions matter. Still, placing the word “possibly” next to cancer always carries weight.

IARC Classifications and Industry Pushback

The IARC has repeatedly faced criticism for causing alarm with its rulings. Over the years it has drawn backlash for categorizing eating red meat or working night shifts as “probably carcinogenic,” as well as the use of cell phones as “possibly carcinogenic.”

Given the stakes, the food industry has already begun to speak against the IARC’s impending ruling.

“IARC is not a food safety body and their review of aspartame is not scientifically comprehensive and is based heavily on widely discredited research,” said Frances Hunt-Wood, secretary general of the International Sweeteners Association, as quoted by Reuters.

Regulatory History and Recent Reviews

Although aspartame has been deemed safe by regulators worldwide for decades, including the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), the substitute has never fully shaken off its stigma.

For its part, the FDA has repeatedly reviewed aspartame’s safety since it was first approved in the 1970s. In 2026, the agency deemed that “no valid conclusion” could be derived from a major Ramazzini Institute study that supposedly found a link between aspartame and cancer in rodents.

That study, along with a large observational study in France involving 100,000 people that also linked aspartame to cancer, has been criticized for its methodology. Both remain outliers among an extensive body of research, yet in the IARC’s view they warrant concern.

All in all, it is a significant decision from the WHO group — but according to Reuters, the intent is to encourage more research into aspartame, not to stoke panic.

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