WHO Warns Against Using Artificial Sweeteners

The World Health Organization warned that artificial sweeteners, used to replace sugar in a vast range of products, do not help in losing weight and can have serious health effects.

According to the United Nations health agency, a systematic review of available evidence "suggests that use of non-sugar sweeteners (NSS) does not confer any long-term benefit in reducing body fat in adults or children.

In addition, results from the review suggest that the long-term use of NSS could increase the risk of type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and mortality in adults.

The WHO's director for nutrition and food safety, Francesco Branca, stressed that replacing ordinary sugar with artificial sweeteners "does not help with weight control in the long term".

He added that NSS are not essential dietary factors and have no nutritional value.

The WHO said its new recommendation applied to everyone except individuals with pre-existing diabetes.

It includes all synthetic and naturally occurring or modified sweeteners not classified as sugars found in manufactured foods and beverages or sold on their own to be added to products by consumers.

Among the most widely used sweeteners are acesulfame K, aspartame, advantame, cyclamates, neotame, saccharin, sucralose, stevia, and stevia derivatives, it said.