Guidelines on aspartame sought

SENATOR Christopher “Bong” Go has asked the Department of Health (DoH) and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to inform the public about the potential health impact of artificial sweeteners.

In a statement, the Senate health committee chairman said artificial sweeteners such as aspartame, which have gained popularity as low-calorie sugar substitutes in recent years have been found to cause cancer.

They are commonly found in sugar-free and diet products, appealing to people who are conscious of their sugar intake and aiming to manage their weight.

The World Health Organization (WHO) recently categorized aspartame as a potentially carcinogenic substance, Mr. Go said.

DoH and FDA should explain the risks of sugar substitutes to Filipino consumers, he added. — Jan Jiminel Cacdac