this post was submitted on 17 Aug 2023
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It uncovered eight WHO panelists involved with assessing safe levels of aspartame consumption who are beverage industry consultants who currently or previously worked with the alleged Coke front group, International Life Sciences Institute (Ilsi).

Their involvement in developing intake guidelines represents “an obvious conflict of interest”, said Gary Ruskin, US Right-To-Know’s executive director. “Because of this conflict of interest, [the daily intake] conclusions about aspartame are not credible, and the public should not rely on them,” he added.

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[–] Neato@kbin.social 177 points 2 years ago (23 children)

We've studied this chemical literally more than any other food additive and there's still nothing definitive. Also mice are not a good stand-in for humans. They are really only used for acute toxicity and such.

[–] PreachHard@mander.xyz -3 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago) (7 children)

My gripe is that swapping out sugars for fake ones doesn't seem healthy long term regardless of any direct impact aspartame itself may have. Just have less sugar imo.

Edit: didn't realise how controversial that soft opinion would be lol. Look, drink what you want but I'm going to stick with water unless it's a treat. I know it's not healthy for me to scratch the dopamine itch with sugary tasting treats all the time; fake sugar or not. My perspective is less about trying to say, diet soda is bad but that there must be better alternatives to suggest than just sweetener filled copies?

[–] zagaberoo@beehaw.org 4 points 2 years ago (6 children)

How do you mean?

I've heard of things like the sensation of sweetness being decoupled from satiation leading to a greater urge for sweetness in compensation, but at least personally that's not happening to me lol.

[–] Rowsdower@lemmy.ca 0 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago) (1 children)

I think what they mean is we shouldn't encourage people to drink what is essentially candy water. Doesn't matter if it has sugar or aspartame. It's still candy

Replacing an unhealthy habit with a less unhealthy habit is still unhealthy (written as I drink a Dr Pepper zero)

[–] zagaberoo@beehaw.org 1 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Why not though? The health impact of moderate diet soda consumption seems to be pretty negligible.

[–] Rowsdower@lemmy.ca 1 points 2 years ago

Diet sodas still aren't water, and they are pretty acidic. They eat away at your teeth, and aren't great at actually hydrating you. It significantly reduces the harm from drinking candy water, but it doesn't eliminate them

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