Aspartame is a popular artificial sweetener which will be declared as a possible carcinogen next month by the Worl Health Organization.

Many daily use products, not only beverages use Aspartame as a sugar alternative as it has zero calories and no bitter aftertaste like other sugar-free options. The Reuters report that Aspartame is going to be marked as a carcinogen has triggered health concerns.

List of products that use Aspartame

Diet Coke Coca-Cola

Extra sugarfree Mars chewing gum

Jell-O Sugarfree gelatin dessert mix

Snapple zero sugar tea and juice drinks

Sugar Twin 1 sweetener packets

Equal zero calorie sweeteners

Trident sugar-free peppermint gums

What is a carcinogen?

Carcinogens are substances that can cause cancer to humans. There are four levels of carcinogens: carcinogenic, probably carcinogenic, possibly carcinogenic and not classifiable. According to the Reuters report, Aspartame is likely to be classified as possibly carcinogenic -- the third category.

What are other substances possibly carcinogenic?

Carpentry

Traditional Asian picked vegetables

Occupational exposures in printing processes

Occupational exposures in dry cleaning

Radiofrequency electromagnetic fields

Aspartame is likely to be included in this category.

List of substances categorised as carcinogenic

While Aspartame is likely to be categorised as a possible carcinogen, here is a list of products that are carcinogenic to humans -- which means there is enough proof that they cause cancer.

Alcohol

Outdoor air pollution

Indoor emissions from household combustion of coal

Tobacco smoking

Consumption of processed meat

X-and Gamma-radiation

Wood dust

Opium consumption

Formaldehyde

Ultraviolet radiation

What is Aspartame?

Aspartame is a sweetener which is being used for over three decades across the world. The ruling of the International Agency for Research on Cancer, which is the cancer research arm of the WHO, has come as a blow to the industry which dismissed the alarm and debated that the use of Aspartame was declared safe by the regulatory bodies.