Wise 'Zero' Beverage Consumption Lifestyle... Moderation with Food Additive Foods

WHO Aspartame Safety Assessment Announcement

Experts: "Proper Amounts Are Excreted Through Metabolism"

On the 14th, the Joint Expert Committee on Food Additives, a joint organization under the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) of the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, announced the results of the hazard assessment of aspartame.

Aspartame has been classified by WHO as a Group 2B possible carcinogen, and the acceptable daily intake remains unchanged at 40 mg per kilogram of body weight.

Aspartame is an artificial sweetener used in various sugar-free food and beverage products sold under the name "Zero," such as beverages, candies, and ice cream. Following this WHO announcement, changes are expected in the rapidly growing "Zero (sugar-free)" market.

Issues related to food additives, as in the case of aspartame, have a significant impact on daily life and the economy. Various food additives are included in the foods we commonly consume, not just aspartame.

Small amounts of food additives are added during the manufacturing, processing, and preservation of food for purposes such as flavor, color, and oxidation prevention.

Representative examples include sweeteners for sweetness in soft drinks, preservatives to prevent spoilage by microorganisms in bread, sausages, and cheese, colorants to provide appealing colors, and flavor enhancers to improve taste and aroma.

In South Korea, the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety grants approval after evaluating technical necessity and safety. They set an acceptable daily intake that is safe even if consumed daily for a lifetime and manage the use of additives at significantly lower levels than this limit.

In the case of aspartame announced by WHO, a 60 kg adult would have to drink 55 cans of 250 ml zero cola containing aspartame in one day to exceed the acceptable daily intake.

[Image source=Clipart Korea]

Kim Yoon-mi, head of the Comprehensive Health Examination Center at Daedong Hospital, said, “There may be misunderstandings or concerns that food additives harm our bodies, but food additives consumed in appropriate amounts are excreted through our body's metabolic processes.”

She added, “Rather than deciding not to consume them at all, it is important to be cautious not to excessively consume various processed foods or specific food additives in a day. Diets centered on processed foods can increase intake of sodium, sugar, and fat, leading to lifestyle diseases such as obesity, so it is necessary to know how to choose and consume foods properly.”

To reduce intake of food additives in daily life, it is better to eat fresh natural foods rather than processed foods, and when consuming processed foods, to accompany them with vegetables.

When purchasing food, check not only the expiration date but also the food additives to avoid excessive intake of specific additives in a day.

For ham and fish cakes, it is recommended to blanch them in boiling water before eating, and sausages should be scored multiple times and then boiled before cooking. Although it may be bothersome, ramen noodles should be boiled and discarded, then cooked with fresh hot water, and the soup base should be used in smaller amounts or cooked with vegetables.

Bright yellow pickled radish should be soaked in cold water for more than 5 minutes and rinsed before eating, and tofu, corn, and beans should be rinsed several times in cold water before consumption.