Context:
The cancer research arm of the World Health Organisation (WHO) will list the popular sugar substitute aspartame as possibly carcinogenic to humans.
About Aspartame:
- Chemically, aspartame is a methyl ester of the dipeptide of two natural amino acids, L-aspartic acid and L-phenylalanine.
- It is about 200 times sweeter than table sugar (a kind of sweetner), which makes aspartame far less sweet than other artificial sweeteners like advantame and neotame.
- It is preferred by people trying to cut calories or lose weight, or by diabetics, because of lower calorie content than sugar.
- Uses: Diet soft drinks, sugar-free chewing gum, sugar-free ice cream, sugar-free breakfast cereals, etc.
- Is aspartame dangerous?: More than 100 studies have found no evidence of harm caused by aspartame, including India and permit the use of aspartame.
News Source: Indian Express
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