CLAIM:
Aspartame, the artificial sweetener used in Diet Coke, has been declared a 'possible carcinogen' by the World Health Organization, raising concerns that consuming Diet Coke may increase cancer risk.
FACT:
While the WHO’s cancer research agency classified aspartame as 'possibly carcinogenic' in 2023, this was based on limited evidence and does not prove that Diet Coke causes cancer. Global food safety regulators, including WHO experts and the US FDA, continue to state that aspartame is safe when consumed within recommended daily limits.
Diet Coke lovers, this one’s for you. Before you add another pack of cans to your Blinkit or Zepto cart, have you ever paused to wonder what those 'zero sugar' drinks might actually mean for your health? Is the artificial sweetener inside Diet Coke really linked to cancer, as several viral social media posts claim? Or is the internet once again turning a scientific classification into fear-driven misinformation?
In a viral Instagram post by the page ‘createpurehealth', claims surrounding Diet Coke and its sweetener aspartame are once again gaining traction online. The post warns users about the health risks linked to artificial sweeteners and ageing.
The post mentions that “World Health Organisation declared aspartame, the sweetener in Diet Coke, a possible carcinogen.”
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It further claims that “most people react by focusing on one ingredient. One sweetener. One product. One swap,” while arguing that ageing and health problems are driven by “long-term patterns” and “how your body processes” what is consumed daily. The post frames longevity as a “system” rather than individual habits, stating that “most people try to fix their health one habit at a time,” including “Diet. Sleep. Supplements. Workouts.”
Diet Coke and cancer: What does the research say?
In 2023, the World Health Organisation’s cancer research arm, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), classified aspartame, the artificial sweetener commonly used in Diet Coke and other 'zero sugar' beverages - as “possibly carcinogenic to humans” (Group 2B). The classification was based on what the agency described as “limited evidence” in humans.
In simple words, the classification does not mean that aspartame has been proven to cause cancer.
On the same day, the WHO-FAO Joint Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA), which evaluates food safety risks, stated that the available evidence was not strong enough to change the acceptable daily intake of aspartame. The limit continues to remain at 40 mg per kilogram of body weight per day.
WHO experts maintained that aspartame remains safe when consumed within the recommended limits.
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has also clarified that the IARC classification should not be interpreted as proof that Diet Coke or aspartame causes cancer.
“The FDA is aware of the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) and Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) conclusions about aspartame issued July 14, 2023. Aspartame being labelled by IARC as ‘possibly carcinogenic to humans’ does not mean that aspartame is actually linked to cancer,” the agency stated.
The FDA further noted that, “Aspartame is one of the most studied food additives in the human food supply. FDA scientists do not have safety concerns when aspartame is used under the approved conditions.”
It also pointed out that several international regulatory bodies, including Health Canada and the European Food Safety Authority, continue to consider aspartame safe at currently permitted consumption levels.
That said, moderation is very important. While there is no conclusive evidence that Diet Coke directly causes cancer, excessive consumption of ultra-processed foods, junk food, and artificially sweetened beverages may still have broader health implications.
Cancer Research UK also notes that “having too much sugar in your diet can make it harder to keep a healthy weight. And being overweight or obese increases the risk of cancer.”
People who consume aspartame regularly and are concerned about its possible health effects are advised to consult a doctor for personalised medical guidance.
This story is done in collaboration with First Check, which is the health journalism vertical of DataLEADS