Is Aspartame in Soda Safe? A A Aspartame is an artificial sweetener used in diet drinks like Coke. This sweetener is 200 times sweeter compared to sugar. This sweetener is usually sold under brand names such as NutraSweet and Equal. Since the approval of aspartame in soda by the Food and Drug Administration, issues have arisen about this sweetener causing serious health risks such as cancer and premature birth. The artificial sweetener aspartame in soda has been at the eye of a storm about its safety and side effects. Aspartame in soda is considered safe as a diet drink sweetener according to the European Food Safety Authority. A review by the agency confirms the safety of the sweetener aspartame in soda without any potential risk of cancer or damage to genes. The review ensures safety of aspartame in soda if consumed in prescribed levels in a diet drink. The safety concerns about aspartame in soda had led to a fall in the sales of diet drinks due to the presence of the artificial sweetener that was believed to cause side effects. Coca-Cola Co. faced this issue and had to launch an advertising campaign confirming the safety of their diet drink.

Aspartame in soda has been under controversy because of safety concerns and side effects that may result from its consumption. Critics opined that aspartame in soda may cause health problems like multiple sclerosis, memory loss, and blindness among others. Health risks associated with aspartame in soda had been examined through lengthy scientific researches. It was found that exceeding 16 cans of diet drink containing aspartame in soda on a daily basis could have safety issues. According to the European Food Safety Authority, a level lower than 16 cans per day of a diet drink with this sweetener is not problematic. The FDA has defined the acceptable daily intake of aspartame sweetener as 50 milligrams per kilogram of body weight in adults. Experts suggest that this sweetener does not have any safety issues. Most people who consume aspartame in soda have not faced any side effects associated with this sweetener. Moreover, there has not been any evidence of aspartame in soda causing any harm. However, research on this sweetener in the diet drink continues.

People fond of diet drinks and still wish to avoid using aspartame as a sweetener due to possible side effects can check whether it features in the list of ingredients before purchasing their diet drink. For their part, the approving agencies and regulators have given aspartame in soda a clean sheet if consumed in reasonable amounts. New Diet Coke Ad Reassures Consumers About Aspartame Safety - ABC News ABC News New Diet Coke Ad Reassures Consumers About Aspartame Safety By Liz Neporent WATCH New Coke Ads Defend Safety of Artificial Sweeteners 0 Shares Email Diet Coke plans to defend its use of artificial sweeteners in a series of new print ads, as part of an effort to reassure consumers about the safety of its products amid sagging sales. The ad, which will ultimately run nationally, appeared in the print edition of USA Today in the Atlanta region today and then in the Atlantic Journal Constitution on Thursday, company spokesman Ben Sheidler said. Entitled, "Quality Products You Can Always Feel Good About," the ad will highlight the benefits and safety of low-calorie and artificial sweeteners found in the Atlanta-based soft drink giant's beverages.

"Time and again, these low- and no-calorie sweeteners have shown to be safe, high-quality alternatives to sugar," the ad states. "In fact, the safety of aspartame is supported by more than 200 studies over the last 40 years." Sheidler said that one area often overlooked in discussions about obesity is the benefit of drinking no- and low-calorie beverages. But, he said, the company also understands that people have questions about artificial sweeteners. "We created this print ad to address their concerns and make it easier for them to get the facts," he said. The Tongue Patch Diet: Crazy or Effective? Many large public health organizations say the sweeteners have no adverse health effects when used in moderation. The Food and Drug Administration, for example, regards aspartame as a safe food ingredient. The American Cancer Society notes that most studies don't associate aspartame use with an increased risk of cancer. The American Heart Association, The American Diabetes Association and the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics all have published position statements supporting the moderate use of artificial sweeteners. However, not all experts agree that all artificial sweeteners are harmless.

The public health advocacy group Center for Science in the Public Interest does not recommend the use of aspartame, a sweetener found in many diet drinks including Diet Coke. "Three independent studies have found that aspartame causes cancer. These studies, in our view, are superior to earlier, industry-sponsored studies that found it did not cause cancer because they used a larger pool of subjects and a more sensitive protocol," said Lisa Lefferts, senior scientist for CSPI. By subjects, Lefferts means mice and rats.The vast majority of studies on aspatame, whether for or against, are rodent studies. Diet Coke Is A Potent Alcohol Mixer Lefferts also noted that some studies found that aspartame can trigger headaches in certain sensitive individuals. The ad is part of a larger campaign by Coke launched earlier this year to shore up a soft drink business that has seen a 1 percent drop in the sales of Coke and a 3 percent drop in the sales of Diet Coke over the past year, according to Beverage Digest. Ads that ran earlier in the year emphasized the company's commitment to fighting the obesity epidemic by offering a wide variety of diet options, options the new ads defend as trustworthy and beneficial.

0 Shares Artificial Sweeteners and Cancer - National Cancer Institute Artificial Sweeteners and Cancer Where can people find additional information about artificial sweeteners? What are artificial sweeteners and how are they regulated in the United States? Artificial sweeteners, also called sugar substitutes, are substances that are used instead of sucrose (table sugar) to sweeten foods and beverages. Because artificial sweeteners are many times sweeter than table sugar, smaller amounts are needed to create the same level of sweetness. Artificial sweeteners are regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The FDA, like the National Cancer Institute (NCI), is an agency of the Department of Health and Human Services. The FDA regulates food, drugs , medical devices, cosmetics, biologics, and radiation -emitting products. The Food Additives Amendment to the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, which was passed by Congress in 1958, requires the FDA to approve food additives, including artificial sweeteners, before they can be made available for sale in the United States. However, this legislation does not apply to products that are “generally recognized as safe.” Such products do not require FDA approval before being marketed. Is there an association between artificial sweeteners and cancer?

Questions about artificial sweeteners and cancer arose when early studies showed that cyclamate in combination with saccharin caused bladder cancer in laboratory animals. However, results from subsequent carcinogenicity studies (studies that examine whether a substance can cause cancer) of these sweeteners have not provided clear evidence of an association with cancer in humans. Similarly, studies of other FDA-approved sweeteners have not demonstrated clear evidence of an association with cancer in humans. What have studies shown about a possible association between specific artificial sweeteners and cancer? Saccharin Studies in laboratory rats during the early 1970s linked saccharin with the development of bladder cancer. For this reason, Congress mandated that further studies of saccharin be performed and required that all food containing saccharin bear the following warning label: “Use of this product may be hazardous to your health. This product contains saccharin, which has been determined to cause cancer in laboratory animals.” Subsequent studies in rats showed an increased incidence of urinary bladder cancer at high doses of saccharin, especially in male rats. However, mechanistic studies (studies that examine how a substance works in the body) have shown that these results apply only to rats.

Human epidemiology studies (studies of patterns, causes, and control of diseases in groups of people) have shown no consistent evidence that saccharin is associated with bladder cancer incidence. Because the bladder tumors seen in rats are due to a mechanism not relevant to humans and because there is no clear evidence that saccharin causes cancer in humans, saccharin was delisted in 2000 from the U.S. National Toxicology Program’s Report on Carcinogens, where it had been listed since 1981 as a substance reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen (a substance known to cause cancer). More information about the delisting of saccharin is available at on the Internet. The delisting led to legislation, which was signed into law on December 21, 2000, repealing the warning label requirement for products containing saccharin. Aspartame Aspartame, distributed under several trade names (e.g., NutraSweet® and Equal®), was approved in 1981 by the FDA after numerous tests showed that it did not cause cancer or other adverse effects in laboratory animals.

Questions regarding the safety of aspartame were renewed by a 1996 report suggesting that an increase in the number of people with brain tumors between 1975 and 1992 might be associated with the introduction and use of this sweetener in the United States. However, an analysis of then-current NCI statistics showed that the overall incidence of brain and central nervous system cancers began to rise in 1973, 8 years prior to the approval of aspartame, and continued to rise until 1985. Moreover, increases in overall brain cancer incidence occurred primarily in people age 70 and older, a group that was not exposed to the highest doses of aspartame since its introduction. These data do not establish a clear link between the consumption of aspartame and the development of brain tumors. In 2005, a laboratory study found more lymphomas and leukemias in rats fed very high doses of aspartame (equivalent to drinking 8 to 2,083 cans of diet soda daily) ( 1 ). However, there were some inconsistencies in the findings.

For example, the number of cancer cases did not rise with increasing amounts of aspartame as would be expected. An FDA statement on this study can be found at on the Internet. Subsequently, NCI examined human data from the NIH-AARP Diet and Health Study of over half a million retirees. Increasing consumption of aspartame-containing beverages was not associated with the development of lymphoma, leukemia, or brain cancer ( 2 ). Acesulfame potassium, Sucralose, and Neotame In addition to saccharin and aspartame, three other artificial sweeteners are currently permitted for use in food in the United States: Acesulfame potassium (also known as ACK, Sweet One®, and Sunett®) was approved by the FDA in 1988 for use in specific food and beverage categories, and was later approved as a general purpose sweetener (except in meat and poultry) in 2002. Sucralose (also known as Splenda®) was approved by the FDA as a tabletop sweetener in 1998, followed by approval as a general purpose sweetener in 1999.

Neotame, which is similar to aspartame, was approved by the FDA as a general purpose sweetener (except in meat and poultry) in 2002. Before approving these sweeteners, the FDA reviewed more than 100 safety studies that were conducted on each sweetener, including studies to assess cancer risk. The results of these studies showed no evidence that these sweeteners cause cancer or pose any other threat to human health. Cyclamate Because the findings in rats suggested that cyclamate might increase the risk of bladder cancer in humans, the FDA banned the use of cyclamate in 1969. After reexamination of cyclamate’s carcinogenicity and the evaluation of additional data, scientists concluded that cyclamate was not a carcinogen or a co-carcinogen (a substance that enhances the effect of a cancer-causing substance). A food additive petition was filed with the FDA for the reapproval of cyclamate, but this petition is currently being held in abeyance (not actively being considered). The FDA’s concerns about cyclamate are not cancer related. Where can people find additional information about artificial sweeteners?

For more information about artificial sweeteners, contact the FDA at: 10903 New Hampshire Avenue Aspartame Aspartame What is aspartame? Aspartame is one of the most common artificial sweeteners in use today. It is sold under the brand names NutraSweet® and Equal®. Aspartame is made by joining together the amino acids aspartic acid and phenylalanine. Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins and are found naturally in many foods. Aspartame is used in many foods and beverages because it is about 200 times sweeter than sugar, so much less of it can be used to give the same level of sweetness. This, in turn, lowers the calories in the food or beverage. Rumors claiming that aspartame causes a number of health problems, including cancer, have been around for many years. Many of these continue to circulate on the Internet. How are people exposed to aspartame? Aspartame has been used in the United States since the early 1980s. It is now found in thousands of different food products.

Aspartame is commonly used as a tabletop sweetener, as a sweetener in prepared foods and beverages, and in recipes that do not require too much heating (since heat breaks down aspartame). It can also be found as a flavoring in some medicines. In the body, aspartame is broken down into phenylalanine, aspartic acid, and methanol. Methanol can be toxic in high amounts, but the amounts that result from the breakdown of aspartame is lower than with many “natural” foods. For example, drinking a liter of diet soda would lead to consumption of 55 milligrams (mg) of methanol, as compared to as much as 680 mg of methanol from a liter of fruit juice. Phenylalanine and aspartic acid are amino acids and are naturally present in many foods that contain protein. They do not cause health problems in most people. However people with the disease phenylketonuria (discussed in more detail later on) need to restrict their intake of phenylalanine, and so are usually counseled to avoid aspartame. How is aspartame regulated?

In the United States, artificial sweeteners such as aspartame are regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). These products must be tested for safety and approved by the FDA before they can be used. The FDA also sets an acceptable daily intake (ADI) for each sweetener, which is the maximum amount considered safe to consume each day during a person's lifetime. The ADI is set to be about 100 times less than the smallest amount that might cause health concerns, based on studies done in lab animals. The FDA has set the ADI for aspartame at 50 milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg) of body weight. The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), which regulates food additives in the European Union, recommends a slightly lower ADI for aspartame, at 40 mg/kg. To put the ADI for aspartame in perspective, this would be 3,750 milligrams per day for a typical adult weighing 75 kilograms (about 165 pounds), far more than most adults take in daily.

A 12 ounce can of diet soda usually contains about 192 milligrams of aspartame and a packet of the tabletop sweetener contains about 35mg. An adult weighing 165 pounds would have to drink more than 19 cans of diet soda a day or consume more than 107 packets to go over the recommended level. Does aspartame cause cancer? Researchers use 2 main types of studies to try to determine if a substance or exposure causes cancer. (A substance that causes cancer or helps cancer grow is called a carcinogen.) In studies done in the lab, animals are exposed to a substance (often in very large doses) to see if it causes tumors or other health problems. It's not always clear if the results from these types of studies will apply to humans, but lab studies are the best way to find out if a substance has the potential to cause cancer in humans before widespread exposure occurs. Another type of study looks at cancer rates in different groups of people. Such a study might compare the cancer rate in a group exposed to a substance versus the rate in a group not exposed to it, or compare it to what the expected cancer rate would be in the general population.

But studies in people can sometimes be hard to interpret, because there may be other factors affecting the results that are hard to account for. In most cases neither type of study provides definitive evidence on its own, so researchers usually look at both lab-based and human studies if they are available. Studies done in the lab Many studies have looked for health effects in lab animals fed aspartame, often in doses higher than 4,000 mg/kg per day over their lifetimes. These studies have not found any health problems that are consistently linked with aspartame. Two studies published by a group of Italian researchers suggested that very high doses of aspartame might increase the risk of some blood-related cancers (leukemias and lymphomas) in rats. However, both the FDA and the EFSA have called these results into question, citing a lack of some important data in the published studies and other concerns. Studies in people Most studies in people have not found that aspartame use is linked to an increased risk of cancer. One early study suggested that an increased rate of brain tumors in the US during the 1980s might have been related to aspartame use.

However, according to the National Cancer Institute (NCI), the increase in brain tumor rates actually began back in the early 1970s, well before aspartame was in use. And most of the increase was seen in people age 70 and older, a group that was not exposed to the highest doses of aspartame, which might also make this link less likely. Other studies have not found an increase in brain tumors related to aspartame use. In the largest study of this issue, researchers from the NCI looked at cancer rates in more than 500,000 older adults. The study found that, compared to people who did not drink aspartame-containing beverages, those who did drink them did not have an increased risk of lymphomas, leukemias, or brain tumors. A recent study of more than 125,000 people found a link between consumption of aspartame sweetened soda and the risk of leukemia, lymphoma, and multiple myeloma in men, but not in women. Since it also found a link between sugar sweetened soda and lymphoma in men, the researchers concluded that the links they found could be explained by chance.

What expert agencies say Expert agencies in the United States and elsewhere that have evaluated aspartame have found it safe for use. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates the use of aspartame and other artificial sweeteners in the United States. In 2007, the FDA stated: Considering results from the large number of studies on aspartame's safety, including five previously conducted negative chronic carcinogenicity studies, a recently reported large epidemiology study with negative associations between the use of aspartame and the occurrence of tumors, and negative findings from a series of three transgenic mouse assays, FDA finds no reason to alter its previous conclusion that aspartame is safe as a general purpose sweetener in food. The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) assesses the safety of sweeteners such as aspartame in the European Union.

According to a 2009 report from its Panel on Food Additives and Nutrient Sources Added to Food: Overall, the Panel concluded, on the basis of all the evidence currently available… that there is no indication of any genotoxic or carcinogenic potential of aspartame and that there is no reason to revise the previously established ADI for aspartame of 40 mg/kg [body weight]. Though research into a possible link between aspartame and cancer continues, these agencies agree that studies done so far have not found such a link. Does aspartame cause any other health problems? Complaints of various health issues have circulated since aspartame first appeared on the market in the 1980s. But for most people, no health problems have clearly been linked to aspartame use. Phenylketonuria (PKU) Phenylketonuria is a rare genetic disorder (present at birth) in which the body can't break down phenylalanine, an amino acid found in many foods. Levels of phenylalanine can build up in the blood, which prevents other important chemicals (like amino acids) from getting to the brain.

Unless phenylalanine intake is severely limited, children with PKU suffer from abnormal brain development. PKU is usually detected in babies by a routine blood test shortly after birth. People with PKU need to follow a phenylalanine-restricted diet. This is especially important in children, whose brains are still developing. It is also important in pregnant women, because it can affect the development of the fetus. Because phenylalanine is a component of aspartame, it's important that people with PKU limit their intake of aspartame. That is why any product (including medicines) containing aspartame has the warning “Phenylketonurics: contains phenylalanine.” Other health complaints Claims have been made that aspartame is related to health effects ranging from mild problems such as headache, dizziness, digestive symptoms, and changes in mood, to more serious health issues such as Alzheimer disease, birth defects, diabetes, Gulf War syndrome, attention deficit disorders, Parkinson disease, lupus, multiple sclerosis, and seizures. However, studies done to date have not found any consistent evidence of harm. Should I limit my exposure to aspartame?

Aside from the effects in people with phenylketonuria, no health problems have been consistently linked to aspartame use. Research on artificial sweeteners, including aspartame, continues today. For people who want to avoid aspartame, the easiest way to do this is to check the labels before buying or eating foods or drinks. If aspartame is in the product it will be listed in the ingredients. The product label will also contain the warning “Phenylketonurics: contains phenylalanine.” Additional resources More information from your American Cancer Society We have some related information that may also be helpful to you. These materials may be ordered from our toll-free number, 1-800-227-2345. National organizations and Web sites In addition to the American Cancer Society, other sources of information and support include*: Food and Drug Administration Artificial Sweetener Dumped From Diet Soft Drinks Artificial Sweetener Dumped From Diet Soft Drinks Artificial Sweetener Dumped From Diet Soft Drinks Soft drink giants Coca-Cola and Pepsi are moving towards making healthier products by removing the artificial sweetener aspartame from their diet drinks.

Payment & Refund Policy May 13, 2015 By Grace Smith Soft drink giants Coca-Cola and Pepsi have both made the move towards making healthier products by removing the artificial sweetener aspartame from their diet drinks, in favour of a more natural alternative. Diet Soft Drinks Diet soft drinks have been popular since the early 80’s, however these days consumers have gradually been steering away from diet drinks in the pursuit of a healthier lifestyle. The main reason consumers have flocked to products like Diet Coke and Pepsi Max is because although they claim to provide all the flavour of a soft drink, it contains little to no calories or sugar. But just how has this been achieved? It’s all down to a man-made artificial sweetener called aspartame . Aspartame is one of the most common artificial sweeteners on the market and is used in over 6,000 products. It’s also sold under the brands NutraSweet and Equal. What is Aspartame? Aspartame is derived from a combination of amino acids; aspartic acid and phenylalanine. It was discovered by accident in 1965 by a chemist who was testing an anti-ulcer drug.

Aspartame is around 200 times sweeter than sugar, so a very small amount is all that is needed to sweeten a product. Is Aspartame Safe? There has been controversy surrounding aspartame for years and questions regarding its safety continue to be raised. Many consumer groups claim that aspartame causes a number of health problems, which range from dizziness, headaches and memory loss, to Alzheimer's, multiple sclerosis and even cancer. However despite these claims, there is no evidence that aspartame is harmful in its current recommended doses. Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ), the Food and Agricultural Organization/World Health Organization Joint Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA), the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and the US Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) have all performed comprehensive reviews of the safety of aspartame, and all support the safety of aspartame for use as a sweetener in food.

Studies performed in 1980 by JECFS established that the Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI) of Aspartame was 40mg per kg of body weight, meaning that the average person can safely consume around 3400mg of aspartame daily without any adverse side effects. The amount of aspartame found in one serve of Diet Coke is around 185mg. Further studies by the European Ramazzini Foundation (ERF) in 2007 did find links between aspartame and cancer in rats. However the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) reviewed these findings in 2009 and found that the rats were given levels of aspartame close to the ADI of humans. Based on the evidence available, the EFSA concluded that aspartame did not cause cancer and found no reason to alter the ADI for Aspartame. Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) also agreed with this assessment. The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) did find links between aspartame and pre-term delivery in pregnant women in a study performed in 2010, however concluded that the current ADI remains safe for the general population.

People with Phenylketonuria (PKU), a rare genetic disorder that leaves them unable to digest phenylalanine, a chemical compound of aspartame, should avoid all products containing aspartame as it may cause a build up in their body and could eventually lead to mental impairment and possible brain damage. Stevia as a Sweetener Although aspartame has been proven to be safe when the correct ADI levels are adhered to, many breathed a sigh of relief when Coca-Cola and Pepsi announced they were moving towards a natural sweetener; stevia. What is Stevia? Stevia is a plant-based sweetener derived from a herb in the Chrysanthemum family. It has reportedly been used as a sweetener for hundreds of years in South America, as well as a treatment for burns, colic and stomach problems. Japan has also been using stevia as a mainstream sweetener since 1970. Refined Stevia, like it’s counterpart aspartame, has no calories and is approximately 200 - 300 times sweeter than sugar. People who consume stevia-based sweeteners as opposed to sugar have a lower risk of developing diabetes.

Tests on animals have shown that stevia may actually assist in the production of insulin, the hormone that drives blood sugar into cells. This means that stevia may be beneficial to diabetics. There have also been claims that stevia actually reduces the amount of plaque on the teeth, which may result in fewer cavities, although this has yet to be definitively proven. There have been some concerns that stevia may cause low blood pressure, however this not yet been confirmed. Stevia seems to be quite effective when used as a sweetener for products such as diet soft drinks, however stevia is not as temperature stable as sugar. This means that it will not caramelise or ferment like sugar does, which may limit its use in certain products such as baked goods. Artificial sweeteners such as aspartame and sucralose are very cheap to manufacture which is part of the reason why they have been so popular for so long. However stevia, while natural, is quite a lot more expensive to grow and manufacture than its synthetic counterparts, due to the large quantities required. This means consumers may see an increase in price as artificial sweeteners are phased out.

Environmentalists are also calling for stevia to be sustainably grown to prevent the over-harvest and eventual extinction of the herb. Is Coke Life Better for You? Coke Life contains around 35 per cent less sugar than regular Coke, however it does contain more sugar than Diet Coke or Coke Zero. Despite this, Coca-Cola insists that Coke Life is designed as a low-calorie alternative to regular Coke and will not replace Diet Coke or Coke Zero. The Company’s Marketing Director, Lisa Winn, stated "Coca-Cola Life was a win for consumers who want the full-sugar taste without the artificial sweeteners found in Diet Coke and Coca-Cola Zero." However health professionals are not convinced, saying that the reduction in sugar made little difference in terms of overall health impacts. Jane Martin, of the Obesity Policy Coalition, stated, "there is hardly any difference between the original Coke and Coke Life. They are still high sugar, sugar-sweetened beverages. This product is no different in that respect." Related posts Email qld@foodsafety.com.au Copyright 2016 © Australian Institute of Food Safety. All Rights Reserved.

Australian Institute of Food Safety, foodsafety.com.au the AIFS logo and the AIFS Wheat Symbol are trademarks of the Australian Institute of Food Safety. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Nationally Recognised Training is delivered in association with Australian Institute of Food Safety (Registered Training Organisation) (#41127). The Australian Institute of Food Safety is a NSW Food Authority Approved Provider. For a full list of AIFS policies and terms of use, visit the Australian Institute of Food Safety support centre. Food safety advice and recommendations should be considered a guide only. For authoritative guidance on food safety related issues please consult your local government agency or Food Standards Australia New Zealand. Coca-Cola ad to defend artificial sweeteners FacebookEmail Twitter Google+ LinkedIn Pinterest Coca-Cola ad to defend artificial sweeteners A Coca-Cola print ad to run on Wednesday defending its use of artificial sweeteners signals that the company's problems aren't just with sugary soft drinks, but also with carbonated soft drinks. The soft drink Post to Facebook Coca-Cola ad to defend artificial sweeteners A Coca-Cola print ad to run on Wednesday defending its use of artificial sweeteners signals that the company's problems aren't just with sugary soft drinks, but also with carbonated soft drinks.

The soft drink Check out this story on USATODAY.com: CancelSend A link has been sent to your friend's email address. Posted! A link has been posted to your Facebook feed. 61 To find out more about Facebook commenting please read the Conversation Guidelines and FAQs Coca-Cola ad to defend artificial sweeteners Bruce Horovitz, USA TODAY Published 7:34 p.m. ET Aug. 13, 2013 | Updated 9:05 a.m. ET Aug. 15, 2013 CLOSE x Share A feisty Coca-Cola print ad defending its use of artificial sweeteners signals that the company's problems aren't just with sugary soft drinks, but also with diet soft drinks. USA TODAY Turns out it's not just sugary soft drink sales that are declining, but diet drinks, too. So a new Coke ad tries to defend the safety of its diet drinks. Coca-Cola products at a convenience store.

(Photo: Tom Pennington, Getty Images) Story Highlights Coca-Cola is taking offensive against diet soft drink critics Ad says 200 studies have defended safety of aspartame Diet soft drink sales are falling faster than regular soft drink sales A feisty Coca-Cola print ad to run on Wednesday defending its use of artificial sweeteners signals that the company's problems aren't just with sugary soft drinks, but also with diet soft drinks. The soft drink giant, facing growing challenges and sales pressures across its line of sugary and non-sugary colas, has plans over the next several days to run newspaper ads that note its diet drinks — many of which are made with aspartame — are safe. "The safety of aspartame is supported by more than 200 studies over the last 40 years," the ad assures consumers. The ad will appear in issues of USA TODAY in the Atlanta region on Wednesday followed by The Atlanta Journal Constitution on Thursday. The ad also will appear next week in the Chicago Tribune. For Coke, it's a calculated business strategy to take the offensive as it battles a growing number of critics and competitors that have influenced consumers to move away from soft drinks of all kinds.

The ad, under the headline "Quality Products You Can Always Feel Good About," offers to share with consumers third-party studies on the benefits and safety of low- and no-calorie sweeteners. Coke's Caren Pasquale Seckler, vice president of social commitment, said the ad's purpose "is to bring to light what is often overlooked, that low- and no-calorie sweeteners which have been tested extensively are safe and beneficial in weight management." The ad represents the next phase of a campaign Coca-Cola Co. launched in January to push back at critics who blame its sugary drinks for fueling obesity rates. The first wave of ads outlined the company's commitment to fighting obesity and pointed to the many diet options it offers. Now Coca-Cola is trying to reassure people that those lower-calorie drinks aren't harmful. "Coke is trying to get out front and proactively defend these diet sweeteners," said John Sicher, editor of Beverage Digest, which tracks the industry. Sales of diet soft drinks are falling at a faster rate than regular soft drinks in the U.S., according to Beverage Digest. Last year, for example, sales volume for Coke fell 1%, while Diet Coke fell 3%.

Pepsi fell 3.4%, while Diet Pepsi fell 6.2%. The declines come even though the Food and Drug Administration says aspartame may be safely used in foods as a sweetener, and the ingredient can be found in a wide array of other types of drinks and foods. The American Cancer Society also notes that most studies using people have found that aspartame is not linked to an increased risk of cancer, including the largest study on the topic. But not everyone feels comfortable about the sweetener. "Despite claims from Coke and other companies about the safety of aspartame, we still don't know about its long-term effects," says Karen Congro, a nutritionist and director of the Wellness for Life Club program at the Brooklyn Hospital Center. "Relying on artificial sweeteners probably causes cravings for sweets and sugar, which can contribute to obesity and poor eating habits." Congro says it's possible that the brain reacts to artificial sweeteners in diet soft drinks and other products by sending out insulin, which can make people hungry — especially for sugar. There is a growing backlash not only against diet soft drinks, but many products made with artificial sweeteners and other artificial ingredients, she says.

Contributing: The Associated Press 1895 CONNECT TWEET LINKEDIN 61 COMMENTEMAILMORE Read or Share this story: NEVER MISS OUT Managing Your Money Master your money with the latest business and investment news, articles and tips from financial experts each Friday. Coca-Cola launch ad campaign to defend use of artificial sweeteners aspartame in Diet soda | Daily Mail Online Coca-Cola launches ad campaign to defend the use of artificial sweeteners in Diet soda New campaign defend use of aspartame in Diet coke Follows a four per cent drop in sales for Coca-Cola Co. Published: 05:40 EST, 15 August 2013 | Updated: 11:17 EST, 15 August 2013 [headerlink] Defence: The campaign refutes claims that aspartame is unhealthy Coca-Cola has launched an advertisement campaign to defend the use of sweeteners in their diet soda. The advertisement is the next phase of a campaign to push back at critics who blame Coca-Cola’s products for the U.S’s ever-rising obesity rates. The Diet Coke ad, which features two smiling women drinking the soda, comes shortly after Coca-Cola reported a drop in sales.

In this year’s second quarter, Coca-Cola Co. reported a four per cent loss in the amount of soda sold in North America, with Diet Coke taking the worst hit. In 2012 sales volume for Coke fell one per cent, while Diet Coke fell 3 per cent. Rivalling cola brand Pepsi fell 3.4 per cent, while Diet Pepsi fell 6.2 per cent. The decline in sales of fizzy drinks has been a long-running trend in the U.S. following reports of negative effects on health and several studies on possible hazards of consuming artificial sweeteners. Coca-Cola’s campaign kicks off in the Atlanta area with print ads in USA Today, Atlanta Journal Constitution and the Chicago Tribune. The advertisement highlights how diet soda can help people manage their weight and stresses the scientific evidence showing the safety of aspartame. It features a picture of two women under the heading ‘Quality products you can always feel good about,’ with several paragraphs of text underneath. ‘Time and again, these low- and no-calorie sweeteners have shown to be safe, high-quality alternatives to sugar,’ it states.

RELATED ARTICLES Share this article Share ‘Coke is trying to get out front and proactively defend these diet sweeteners,’ said John Sicher, editor of Beverage Digest, which tracks the industry. The declines come even though the Food and Drug Administration says aspartame may be safely used in foods as a sweetener, and the ingredient can be found in a wide array of other type of drinks and foods. Sweet smiles: The advertisement put out in Atlanta by Coca-Cola Co. in defence of the use of Aspartame product NutriSweet in their Diet Coke Diet decline: Fewer people,turn to mainstream soda companies to quench their thirst with Coca Cola Co reporting a one per cent drop in sales of Coke and three per cent for the diet version in 2012 The American Cancer Society also notes that most studies using people have found that aspartame is not linked to an increased risk of cancer, including the largest study on the topic. Another explanation to the decline in sales of products with artificial sweeteners is the recent trend of organic and natural ingredients. ART OF FAKING SWEETNESS Aspartame, used in Diet Coke under the brand name NutraSweet, is an artificial product 200 times sweeter than sugar.

The safety of the product has been a hot topic since its U.S. approval in 1981, but there is no evidence of any detrimental effects on health if consumed in normal doses. It has been found safe for human consumption in more than 90 countries, with an EU wide approval in 1994. The majority of Aspartame consumption comes in the form of diet soft drinks with a standard can of soda containing 180mg of aspartame. This means that a 165lbs adult would need to drink approximately 21 12oz cans of diet soda to exceed the recommended daily rate. ‘Even if (aspartame is) 100 per cent safe to use, it's still problematic from a nutrition standpoint,’ said Andy Bellatti, a registered dietician based in Las Vegas who is critical of the food industry's marketing practices. Bellatti noted that foods and drinks aren't good for people just because they don't have any calories or have been shown to be safe. He added that ingredients such as aspartame only keep people hooked on sweets over more wholesome choices.

This summer, Coca-Cola rolled out a version of its namesake soda sweetened with natural sweetener stevia in Argentina, a smaller market where it can better gauge how the drink performs. Caren Pasquale Seckler, vice president of social commitment at Coca-Cola, said the goal is to clear up the confusion around diet sweeteners. She said the company will gauge the response in Atlanta and Chicago before expanding the push. ‘This is a beginning and it's a learning process, but we do have plans to do more,’ she said. Aspartame sensitivity and health effects - Business Insider Flickr/Steven Snodgrass Aspartame is the artificial sweetener that people love to hate. It's also one of the most common alternatives to sugar , found in over 6,000 products and sold as NutraSweet® and Equal®. The same amount of aspartame and sugar has the same number of calories as sugar, but since aspartame is 200 times sweeter than sugar it goes a lot farther. Because of this, aspartame often used in diet sodas to cut down on calories.

But in April 2015 PepsiCo announced that it will no longer use aspartame in Diet Pepsi , amid popular concern that aspartame causes cancer and other health problems. Do these claims actually hold water? In its Reactions video series, the American Chemical Society put the rumors to scientific scrutiny. The concern about aspartame causing cancer comes from the fact that your body breaks it down into formaldehyde, which is a substance known to cause cancer under long term exposure. It's worth noting that there's an inconsistency here: 12 oz. of fruit juice can put up to 5 times more formaldehyde into your body than the same amount of diet soda, yet no one is concerned about fruit juice causing cancer. And there's no reason to be concerned about the formaldehyde from fruit juice, either. Formaldehyde is used pretty much immediately in the body to make amino acids, the components that make up proteins — it doesn't get stored and build up to potentially harmful levels. What's not used to in the process of making proteins is turned into formic acid, which is then excreted in urine or broken down by carbon dioxide and water. Just don't do this.

Flickr / Rusty Clark - Back In One Piece Studies back up this argument that aspartame is safe. One study compared vital signs, lab tests, and symptoms of a group of people who took pills with the amount of aspartame in 10 liters of diet soda per day for 24 weeks with a group that took a placebo pill. The scientists found no differences between the two groups, even at that extremely high daily dose of aspartame. No link has been found between aspartame and cancer , and people have been looking: aspartame is one of the most heavily researched food additives of all time since the FDA approved it for human consumption in the early 80s. Besides the concerns about cancer, some people have claimed reactions to aspartame including headaches, seizures, nausea, anxiety, and depression. To test this, scientists ran a study in which people who claimed to have reactions to aspartame were given snack bars with the sweetener or control snack bars that didn't contain aspartame. Again, there was no difference between the two groups, and zero evidence of an acute response to aspartame.

Aspartame is only really a concern for people with phenylketonuria , a condition with makes them unable to break down phenylalanine, another byproduct of aspartame in the body. If phenylalanine accumulates in the body, it can cause brain damage. But anyone who metabolizes phenylalanine normally doesn't need to worry. Despite the hype they get, claims about dangers of aspartame are from "anecdotal evidence or flawed studies," the video says. So enjoy that diet soda, in moderation.

Question: What sweetener is usually used in Diet Coke?
Answer: Aspartame