Germana Carillo On the occasion of World Cancer Day, Yuka launches a European petition calling for a ban on aspartame in collaboration with the French League against Cancer and the NGO foodwatch
Soft drinks like Coca-Cola Zero, Pepsi Max, and Sprite Zero, as well as energy drinks, chewing gum, sweets, and protein desserts—all still contain aspartame (E951), a sugar substitute for more than 2,500 “light” or “sugar-free” foods in Europe.
This despite the consideration that over one year ago, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), the World Health Organization (WHO) agency, had classified aspartame as a “possible human carcinogen.” This is following over 30 years of research on its safety by scientists on its health risk, particularly regarding cardiovascular disease and diabetes.
What is aspartame?
Aspartame is an artificial sweetener composed of two amino acids: aspartic acid and phenylalanine. It was first discovered in the 1960s but gained popularity in the 1980s because of its extremely low calorie value and its extremely high sweetness potential—over 200 times that of regular table sugar (sucrose).
A 2013 European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) report confirmed, despite controversy, that aspartame was safe for human consumption, including in children and adults. However, a number of studies over the years caused alarm regarding some aspartame ingredients, such as phenylalanine, which may be poisonous.
In 2023, IARC officially classified aspartame as a “possible carcinogen,” grouping it in Group 2B.
The petition to ban Aspartame
An initiative by Yuka, the French League Against Cancer, and foodwatch has launched a petition in 11 countries in Europe—Germany, Austria, Belgium, Spain, France, Italy, Ireland, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and Switzerland. The aim is to urge European institutions to ban aspartame and also call on EU member states to take action against the additive.
According to EU law, the precautionary principle should lead to its prohibition. Julie Chapon, co-founder of Yuka, is keen on rallying the app’s 45 million European users:
“95% of users of Yuka indicate that they no longer purchase products that include controversial additives since becoming users of the app. Today we wish to empower them in order to make a difference by pressurizing the authorities to prohibit this harmful additive.”
[Sign the petition here.]
