[Fine Chemicals] WHO research agency to declare sweetener aspartame 'possibly carcinogenic' — how to view this? Where do 'sugar-free' drinks go from h

Some media say the WHO's Joint Expert Committee on Food Additives will start evaluating aspartame at the end of June and is expected to announce results on July 14 — the same day the IARC formally declares aspartame a 'possibly carcinogenic' substance. In this gathering aspartame crisis, some companies have already rushed to distance themselves. Genki Forest says none of its products contain aspartame; its sweetener formula is mainly erythritol, which solves the taste problems of sweeteners like aspartame. A Nayuki Tea official also said that in November 2022 Nayuki announced all products use an upgraded natural sweetener, monk fruit sugar. Monk fruit is a medicinal-and-edible plant native to China, and its extract, mogroside, is a natural sweet substance. So am I about to say goodbye to sugar-free cola? Life suddenly looks a lot dimmer. Cola dodged the 'kills sperm' rumor but can't dodge 'possibly carcinogenic.' Cola really has it rough — first the rumor it kills sperm, now sugar-free cola is said to possibly cause cancer. The 'cola kills sperm' joke is said to come from 1960s South America, where local women liked to wash their private parts with cola after sex to kill sperm and prevent pregnancy. People believed the carbonation in cola could kill sperm, the sugar could 'detonate' sperm, and after shaking, cola could be sprayed deep into the vagina — basically used as a condom. That's why the American rock band The Fugs has a song called 'Coca-Cola Douches.' As the joke spread, it evolved into 'drinking cola kills sperm.' Probably the most influential urban legend ever? So this time, aspartame is about to be classified as a possible carcinogen — is that reliable? The topic hit the top of the trending list. Some netizens took it well, saying if you've got a cola in hand, 'drink it fast, it's not carcinogenic this month yet.' According to a Washington Post report on the 22nd, aspartame is one of the most common artificial sweeteners in the world. A French study last year suggested that consuming large amounts of aspartame may increase adults' cancer risk, and the US has begun re-reviewing the sweetener. The American Beverage Association, representing drink makers, rebutted the conclusion. Some media asked the WHO for confirmation, and the WHO responded that it will publish relevant content on this topic on July 14. Currently, the IARC classifies carcinogenic factors into five groups based on the likelihood of causing cancer: Group 1: confirmed carcinogenic to humans.