Zac ZapicoJul 3, 2023
Victoria Song

Did I have several other things to do today? Yes, but the "WHO says aspartame is a possible carcinogen!" discourse was driving me bananas so I did lil a reporting to explain why Diet Coke lovers should not be panicking about the IARC's ruling.

If you're gonna avoid aspartame, do it because it tastes like ass!! Not because a NON-Food safety agency said there is a chance based on limited evidence that aspartame could cause cancer for some people.

https://www.theverge.com/2023/6/30/23780115/aspartame-iarc-who-food-safety-carcinogen

You don’t have to freak out about aspartame in your diet soda

A recent Reuters report says the IARC, an agency of the WHO, will declare aspartame is a possible carcinogen next month. However, the IARC is not a food safety agency, and context matters.

The Verge
Jun 30, 2023 at 10:06pmWeb
Show threadVictoria SongJun 30, 2023
Sorry, a LEAKED report from a non-food safety agency that no one can review until July 14th.
Show threadtoxtethogradyJun 30, 2023
@vicmsong Diet Coke uses other sweeteners...
Show threadVictoria SongJun 30, 2023
@toxtethogrady It's literally listed as an ingredient on Coke's website: https://www.dietcoke.com/products/diet-coke
Diet Coke

it's the one and only Diet Coke®. it's your everyday hero. your deliciously fizzy go-to companion. it might have a brand new look, but it's the same Diet Coke® you know and love. oh yeah, and it's incredibly refreshing. always.

Diet Coke® Original | Diet Coke®
Show threadtoxtethogradyJun 30, 2023
@vicmsong I can recall that even when aspartame was around, Diet Coke continued to use saccharin. Another carcinogen...
Show threadVHaschJun 30, 2023

@vicmsong

Several grains of salt being added here because of the saccharine debacle.

Show threadVictoria SongJun 30, 2023

@VHasch last i checked saccharine was de-listed as a carcinogen because while there was a study that found it caused bladder in rats at high doses, it wasn't applicable to humans because it was specific to rat biology. toxicity is always in the dose.

The point is the IARC's classifications are so broad that everything they review is either a carcinogen or potentially a carcinogen.

Show threaddonkeyJul 1, 2023
@vicmsong @ChanceHMiller Right?! Never mind the cancer - that stuff upsets my stomach hugely.
Show threadDoItForMe.SolutionsJul 1, 2023

@vicmsong Thank you for mentioning saccharine, does anybody remember the same bs with cyclamates?

I am sad to see the same junk science feeding lab rats (literally) thousands times the typical dose of anything causes cancer or other problems is still in use.

The lure of publishing junk research using accelerated dosage and compressed time intervals for expediency is unfortunately very much alive and well?

Show threadJeri DanskyJul 4, 2023
@vicmsong Thank you! Re-placing the order I cancelled last night because of the aspartame scare.
Show threadVictoria SongJul 4, 2023
@jeridansky