Recently, you might have come across news regarding the World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) suggesting a potential carcinogenic risk associated with aspartame.
In today's world, we're constantly exposed to a barrage of chemicals, toxins, and artificially created foods. While isolated studies might only indicate a modest degree of harm in the short term, it's important to consider the bigger picture. When you combine these factors with a typical poor diet, stress, a sedentary lifestyle, and environmental pollution, it's hardly surprising that we're witnessing a steady rise in chronic diseases and obesity over the past several decades.
The acceptable daily intake amount was maintained at 40 mg/kg (40 mg/2.2lbs) body weight. Here are some intake amounts by body weight along with Diet Coke equivalent (contains 188mg per 12oz can):
| Body Weight | Acceptable Daily Intake | 12oz Diet Coke equivalent |
| 50 lbs (22.7 kg) | 908 mg | 4.8 cans |
| 75 lbs (34 kg) | 1360 mg | 7.23 cans |
| 100 lbs (45.4 kg) | 1816 mg | 9.66 cans |
| 150 lbs (68 kg) | 2720 mg | 14.47 cans |
| 200 lbs (90.7 kg) | 3628 mg | 19.3 cans |
From the data, it's clear that the daily limits for aspartame are relatively high, and most individuals would likely consume amounts well below these limits. However, it's important to note that these limits would be significantly lower for children and pregnant women. For the sake of comparison, we've used Diet Coke, which solely uses aspartame as its sweetener. However, other beverages like Diet Pepsi, Coke Zero, and Pepsi Zero blend aspartame with another artificial sweetener known as Acesulfame potassium (Ace-K). While these blends reduce the quantity of aspartame, it's worth noting that there are numerous studies highlighting potential negative effects of Ace-K, which should also be taken into consideration.
Here are the amounts of aspartame in common soft drinks:
| Name | Amount of Sweetener (12oz serving) |
| Diet Coke | 188mg Aspartame |
| Diet Dr. Pepper | 185mg Aspartame |
| Pepsi Max | 125mg Aspartame + 32mg Ace-K |
| Diet Pepsi | 124mg Aspartame + 32mg Ace-K |
| Barq's Diet Root Beer | 99mg Aspartame + 61mg Ace-K |
| Coke Zero Sugar | 87mg Aspartame + 47mg Ace-K |
| Diet Mountain Dew | 86mg Aspartame + 27mg Ace-K + 27mg Sucralose |
| Sprite Zero Sugar | 75mg Aspartame + 51mg Ace-K |
Peeling back the curtain on the world of artificial colors, ingredients, GMOs, and preservatives could fill an entire article on its own. Even today, many colas use a known carcinogen, 4-methylimidazole, for caramel coloring. We've taken a different route, opting for fruit and vegetable coloring in our cola. The result? A lighter shade than your typical cola, but without the harmful 4-MI caramel.
Our quest for sugar alternatives was born out of a desire for healthier options and a deep dive into diabetes research. The landscape of studies on artificial sweeteners like aspartame, sucralose, and ace-k is littered with negative findings, with few, if any, positive points.
Recent research has even drawn connections between aspartame and obesity. It's an ironic twist that a zero-sugar substitute like aspartame could potentially contribute to or maintain obesity. Some people might think they're saving calories with their drink, allowing them to eat more. Yet, long-term studies are starting to reveal that aspartame might reduce insulin resistance and harm glucose sensitivity as well as negatively impacting gut health.
Now, compare this with natural sweeteners like allulose, stevia, and monk fruit. These alternatives are backed by numerous studies highlighting benefits such as antioxidant effects, insulin regulation, and probiotic benefits. While we wouldn't label these sugar substitutes as "healthy," we firmly believe they're a significantly better choice than artificial sweeteners and traditional cane sugar.
The WHO/IARC report doesn't outright claim that aspartame causes cancer, especially at moderate amounts. Still, it's likely to spur more research into other diseases. We're particularly interested in the long-term metabolic impact of artificial sweeteners on diabetes. In a world inundated with chemicals, artificial ingredients, air pollution, GMOs, and other toxins, we've chosen to focus on natural sweeteners and natural ingredients in our soda. It's one less concern and a guilt-free pleasure.
For an in-depth look at how allulose stacks up against aspartame, including links to recent studies on aspartame, check out this page.
We're not fans of sensationalized claims about research studies. In truth, most things in moderation are okay. But when a little bit of this and a little bit of that combine with stressful, sedentary lifestyles over a long period, health can deteriorate. We launched AlluSoda out of our love for allulose as a healthier alternative, creating a product we'd happily drink ourselves. We didn't compromise, choosing costlier, natural, non-GMO ingredients, tunnel pasteurization to avoid harmful preservatives, natural colors, and most importantly, natural sweeteners.
