Unclear
Aspartame and diet soda
artificial sweetener. Food & drink.
- Verdict
- UnclearThere isn't enough human evidence to say either way.
- How sure
- Rung 2 · LimitedFew, small or conflicting human studies, or only indirect measures such as blood markers.
- How big
- Within the safe limit unless a 70 kg adult drinks more than 9–14 cans of diet soda a day.
The rung shows how sure the science is, not how big the effect is. How to read these ratings
Cancers affected
Liver
What the evidence shows
In 2023 the WHO's cancer agency classed aspartame as possibly carcinogenic, based on limited evidence. The WHO's food-safety committee kept its safe limit: a 70 kg adult would need more than 9–14 cans of diet soda a day to exceed it.
What to do
Moderate intake is considered safe. Water is the best everyday drink.
Sources
To take it to your doctor, print this page.
Related
Every myth and exposure we rated, or follow one cancer step by step: breast cancer, colorectal cancer, lung cancer and prostate cancer.