Is aspartame bad for you? What we know about the sweetener’s health risks

Some studies link the popular soda sweetener to higher cancer risk, but the links are weak and questions remain

On 29 June 2023, the soda industry was bracing for a fresh wave of controversy. A media leak had suggested that a research arm of the World Health Organization (WHO), which had been reviewing the artificial sweetener aspartame, was planning to classify the additive as possibly cancer-causing.

The sweetener - included in candy, soft drinks such as Diet Coke and Diet Pepsi, and common items such as toothpaste - has long been dogged by questions about potential health risks. And such a determination could disrupt consumers' spending and billions in annual sales.