Aspartame defended by industry experts after cancer risk warning: 'Limited evidence'

On the heels of a WHO committee's labeling of aspartame as “possibly carcinogenic to humans," many industry experts are speaking out in defense of the sweetener.

The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), a cancer-focused organization within WHO, was the agency that called out the sweetener’s potential cancer risk. "Our results do not indicate that occasional consumption should pose a risk to most consumers." "The FDA disagrees with IARC’s conclusion that these studies support classifying aspartame as a possible carcinogen to humans." "It is irresponsible to needlessly scare or confuse people." "The average 150-pound person would need to consume about 14 12-oz. cans of diet beverages  … every day over the course of their life to raise any safety concern." Experts called for additional research on the long-term health risks of consuming non-sugar sweeteners. Melissa Rudy is health editor and a member of the lifestyle team at Fox News Digital. 

The IARC uses five different levels of cancer risk: Group 1, "carcinogenic to humans"; Group 2A, "Probably carcinogenic to humans"; Group 2B: "Possibly carcinogenic to humans"; Group 3, "Unclassifiable as to carcinogenicity in humans"; and Group 4, "Probably not carcinogenic to humans."