Which artificial sweetener has been classified by the World Health Organization as possibly carcinogenic to humans?

Which artificial sweetener has been classified by the World Health Organization as possibly carcinogenic to humans?

• A. Saccharin
• B. Stevia
• C. Aspartame
• D. Glucose

Answer: (C)

Understanding this question means recognizing how the World Health Organization’s cancer research arm classifies potential cancer risk. They use a scale where “possibly carcinogenic to humans” corresponds to Group 2B, indicating limited or suggestive evidence but no solid proof of causation. Aspartame has been placed in Group 2B, meaning there is some signal from studies, but it’s not conclusive that it causes cancer in people at typical exposure levels. This is why it’s identified as possibly carcinogenic. The other options do not carry this same Group 2B designation in the context of artificial sweeteners: glucose is a natural sugar, and stevia is a natural sweetener with different safety evaluations, while saccharin has its own historical concerns but is not the current example being highlighted for this classification. The key takeaway is the classification label for aspartame.

Understanding this question means recognizing how the World Health Organization’s cancer research arm classifies potential cancer risk. They use a scale where “possibly carcinogenic to humans” corresponds to Group 2B, indicating limited or suggestive evidence but no solid proof of causation.

Aspartame has been placed in Group 2B, meaning there is some signal from studies, but it’s not conclusive that it causes cancer in people at typical exposure levels. This is why it’s identified as possibly carcinogenic. The other options do not carry this same Group 2B designation in the context of artificial sweeteners: glucose is a natural sugar, and stevia is a natural sweetener with different safety evaluations, while saccharin has its own historical concerns but is not the current example being highlighted for this classification. The key takeaway is the classification label for aspartame.