Live data from Hacker News

Aspartame sweetener to be declared possible cancer risk by WHO, say reports

theguardian.com

221–230 of 584 posts

Re: Aspartame sweetener to be declared possible cancer risk by WHO, say reports

#221

Reminder that bacon is already a known carcinogen for those worrying about artificial sweeteners but happily eating processed meats.

Why stop with nitrates and nitrites? Acrylamide is a known human carcinogen, and occurs in a huge variety of cooking processes (including baking, frying, and grilling). If you eat potatoes, you're almost certainly putting yourself at more risk than aspartame is: we've got epidemiology and mechanism of action to back up the potato risk.

Re: Aspartame sweetener to be declared possible cancer risk by WHO, say reports

#222

Weird to have Coke in the Reuters headline when it's not just Coke that uses aspartame. And this is interesting may be related? >Aspartame is hydrolysed in the body to three chemicals, aspartic acid (40%), phenylalanine (50%) and methanol (10%). Aspartic acid is an amino acid. >When there is an excess of neurotransmitter, certain neurons are killed by allowing too much calcium into the cells. ...The neural cell damag…

Diet Coke is undoubtedly America's biggest source of aspartame. Diet Coke has massive market share.

Regular coke is probably my biggest source of aspartame now that they changed the recipe to contain 30% less sugar compensated by aspartame and acesulfame-k. I bought a Sprite a while ago and it tasted different so I checked and it doesn't even contain any sugar even though the bottle looks just like before and says "100% saborizantes naturales" (although the sweeteners are artificial). Here's the product page, https://www.coca-cola.com.pe/marcas/sprite

Re: Aspartame sweetener to be declared possible cancer risk by WHO, say reports

#223

To clarify, this doesn't mean aspartame in food is harmful, it means that in certain circumstances it's possible for the chemical to cause cancer. For example, workers exposed to extremely high levels during manufacturing, or breakdown products formed during improper storage.

What about the mass of people who in order to drink liters of soda every day ingest large amounts of aspartame? Is it about "circumstances" or concentration?

Re: Aspartame sweetener to be declared possible cancer risk by WHO, say reports

#224

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Nitrate-free (or, "no nitrates added") bacon still contains nitrates. About the same amount as standard bacon, and in some cases, more. https://www.americastestkitchen.com/cooksillustrated/how_tos...

In the UK, we have nitrate-free bacon available that is actually nitra(i)te free: https://www.betternaked.com/products/better-naked-unsmoked-b...

To what everybody else is saying, I'll add that by the US definition, that's not bacon; it's back bacon, which is a loin cut, radically different than American bacon, which I believe you lot call "streaky bacon".

Re: Aspartame sweetener to be declared possible cancer risk by WHO, say reports

#225
post #220

Reminder that bacon is already a known carcinogen for those worrying about artificial sweeteners but happily eating processed meats.

Or drinking hot tea. Working graveyard shift. Drinking alcohol.

Breathing air in any city.

Re: Aspartame sweetener to be declared possible cancer risk by WHO, say reports

#226

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If you read carefully, it still contains sodium nitrite except as powdered celery. So the source of the sodium nitrate is “natural” but the dose is still the same.

Fml so I’ve been paying more for nitrite free bacon that still has nitrite in it? It feels like saying something contains no nitrites or preservatives and then including them in the form of cultured celery extract should be fraud/false advertising and a crime.

You extremely have been conned by the "nitrite-free bacon" labeling, yes. This is something that food writers have been complaining about for over a decade.

Re: Aspartame sweetener to be declared possible cancer risk by WHO, say reports

#227

To clarify, this doesn't mean aspartame in food is harmful, it means that in certain circumstances it's possible for the chemical to cause cancer. For example, workers exposed to extremely high levels during manufacturing, or breakdown products formed during improper storage.

What about the mass of people who in order to drink liters of soda every day ingest large amounts of aspartame? Is it about "circumstances" or concentration?

Is litres of soda the bar for Aspartame to be bad for someone?

What about a few cans a week?

Re: Aspartame sweetener to be declared possible cancer risk by WHO, say reports

#228

Reminder that bacon is already a known carcinogen for those worrying about artificial sweeteners but happily eating processed meats.

Why stop with nitrates and nitrites? Acrylamide is a known human carcinogen, and occurs in a huge variety of cooking processes (including baking, frying, and grilling). If you eat potatoes, you're almost certainly putting yourself at more risk than aspartame is: we've got epidemiology and mechanism of action to back up the potato risk.

I believe California even helpfully warns you about any location that has acrylamide.

Re: Aspartame sweetener to be declared possible cancer risk by WHO, say reports

#229

Reminder that bacon is already a known carcinogen for those worrying about artificial sweeteners but happily eating processed meats.

With bacon you know what you get, so you can dose it and take your risks. Aspartame has been sold to us as the healthy alternative to sugar. People literally use aspartame as an excuse to chug liters of soda every day.

Re: Aspartame sweetener to be declared possible cancer risk by WHO, say reports

#230

Earlier quoted context omitted.

[flagged]

It should. There are plenty of chemicals that you regularly consume which, in high dosages, are fatal but are required at low dosages. Too much calcium will causes osteopetrosis (too little does as well). Too much vitamin K causes liver damage Too much vitamin B1 causes hypertension Plenty of stuff is dangerous at high levels and safe at low levels. Our kidneys and liver exist to filter and eliminate excess.

Too little or too much of many foods will be bad

Where Aspartame is unhealthy in soda could use more detailed light shed on it.

There may be some issue with how it’s used for food and soda in second and third world countries compared to First world.

Post reply on HN