Coke insists fake sweetener is safe

The print ads which began appearing on Wednesday (14 August) in major US newspapers show a pair of laughing women, one holding a bottle of diet Coke in hand, alongside text that reads: "Quality products you can always feel good about."

The copy beneath the picture says, "The safety of aspartame is supported by more than 200 studies over the last 40 years."

The cold drink industry is facing declining US sales as some blame sugary drinks for fueling the obesity epidemic in America.

Diet Coke sales fell three percent in 2012 compared with a year earlier and Coke was down one percent, according to Beverage Digest. Meanwhile, Pepsi slid 3.4% and Diet Pepsi fell 6.2%.

Scientists not unanimous

"Scientists do not agree on whether aspartame, approved in the 1980s, is safe over the long-term," said Karen Congro, a nutritionist and director of the Wellness for Life Programme at the Brooklyn Hospital Centre.

"Despite claims from Coke and other companies about the safety of aspartame, we still don't know about its long-term effects," she said in an email to AFP.

"There is a growing backlash against it - not only for diet sodas, but other products with artificial sweeteners or artificial ingredients," Congro added.

She said recent research shows that people who consume artificial sweeteners so as to stick to a diet can actually end up craving more calories. "Relying on artificial sweeteners probably causes cravings for sweets and sugar, which can contribute to obesity and poor eating habits," she said.

"It's possible that the brain reacts to artificial sweeteners in diet soda and other products by sending out insulin, which can make people hungry, especially for sugar.

The US Food and Drug Administration says aspartame may be safely used in food as a sweetening agent and a flavor enhancer in foods.

Source: AFP via I-Net Bridge