Should aspartame be banned, as it is possibly carcinogenic?

The stated objective of this petition, which has been circulated in eleven European countries (Germany, Austria, Belgium, Spain, France, Italy, Ireland, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom and Switzerland): "Pressure European institutions to ban this additive and ask European Union member states to act." as a precaution, we can read in a joint press release.

Aspartame in over 6,000 products

Present, according to Foodwatch, in more than 6,000 products, particularly those deemed light, such as certain sugar-free sodas, 0% yogurts and chewing gum, aspartame has been authorized in France since 1988 and has sparked debate about the risks that this artificial sweetener could pose to health. In 2023, the World Health Organization classified it as "possibly carcinogenic to humans."

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According to Philippe Bergerot, president of the League Against Cancer, quoted in the joint press release, there is no "no reason to allow people to be exposed to a completely avoidable risk of cancer" And "We ask our political decision-makers to take responsibility and ban it."

Other studies have noted risks related to diabetes and even premature birth linked to aspartame consumption. The additive, identifiable on labels by its E 951 number, was re-evaluated in 2013 by EFSA, the European Food Safety Agency responsible for evaluating products on the European food market, without being challenged. But Foodwatch, the League Against Cancer, and Yuka are concerned about "conflicts of interest", they noted in their press release.

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A campaign against nitrite salts in food

Indeed, according to a Foodwatch report on aspartame also published on Tuesday, "Nearly three-quarters of the studies on aspartame considered reliable by EFSA were financed or influenced by the (food) industry, which calls into question the credibility of the risk assessment, and therefore of the approval of aspartame." by the European institution.

At the end of 2019, these three consumer and health protection entities had already jointly launched a campaign against nitrite salts in food due to their role in the appearance of certain digestive cancers, followed by effects in certain manufacturers who had modified their recipes.