MFDS "Korea's Daily Intake Not High"
However, Patients with Phenylketonuria Should Be Cautious
Artificial sweetener 'Aspartame,' which replaces sugar, is reportedly set to be classified as a potential carcinogen, sparking controversy. However, research shows that to actually harm the human body, one would need to consume more than 55 cans of zero-calorie soft drinks daily.
According to the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety on the 3rd, a child weighing 35 kg would have to drink more than 55 cans of zero cola daily to exceed the Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI) of aspartame.
ADI (Acceptable Daily Intake) refers to the amount of a specific ingredient that can be consumed daily per kilogram of body weight without causing harmful effects to the human body. The Ministry strictly manages ADI for sweeteners like aspartame in various processed foods manufactured domestically.
Makgeolli, where aspartame is mainly used, is also managed at a safe level. According to the Ministry, an adult weighing 60 kg would have to drink 33 bottles of makgeolli (750 ml each) daily to reach the ADI, stating, "It is practically impossible to consume such an amount in a day, so there is no need to worry."
A survey found that Koreans' aspartame intake is within the ADI standard. In the 2019 re-evaluation of food additive standards and specifications, comparing the national total intake against the ADI, aspartame was recorded at 0.12%. This essentially means that Koreans have almost no risk of harmful effects from aspartame.
However, patients with phenylketonuria, a congenital amino acid metabolism disorder, need to be cautious about aspartame intake. When consumed, aspartame breaks down into phenylalanine, aspartic acid, and trace amounts of methanol in the body. Among these, phenylalanine can adversely affect individuals with phenylketonuria.
The Ministry mandates that foods containing aspartame must be labeled with "Contains Phenylalanine," and patients with phenylketonuria must check these labels carefully.
Meanwhile, on the 29th of last month (local time), multiple foreign media outlets reported that the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), under the World Health Organization (WHO), classified aspartame for the first time as a "possible carcinogen to humans (Group 2B)." Other substances in Group 2B include aloe vera, electromagnetic fields, and pickled vegetables such as pickles.
Aspartame, known to be about 200 times sweeter than sugar, is used not only in various processed foods but also in "zero" series soft drinks that reduce calories by excluding sugar. Therefore, this decision is expected to have a considerable impact on the related industry.
In this regard, Francis Hunt-Wood, Secretary-General of the International Sweeteners Association (ISA), criticized, "IARC is not a food safety agency, and its evaluation of aspartame relies excessively on studies that are not scientifically comprehensive and lack credibility."
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