The latest U.S. government report on what causes cancer, issued on Monday, removed saccharin from the list of suspected carcinogens, but added 14 substances, including second-hand tobacco smoke and alcohol, as known causes. It had been listed since 1981. He also said humans had used saccharin for decades without increasing rates of cancer. Saccharin, sold since 1900, is the oldest sugar substitute on the market. The U.S. public, faced with the loss of diet sodas, rebelled and Congress blocked the action.
Products containing saccharin now carry a warning label instead.
When aspartame became available in 1981, it quickly dominated the artificial sweetener market, in part because of superior flavor and in part because of the cancer worries. Both were removed at the request of industry groups. The report listed 218 substances known or suspected to cause cancer in people. Second-hand smoke topped the upgraded list. Tobacco smoke was also listed as a known cause.