Designation as a Potential Carcinogen... Food and Distribution Industries Likely to Accelerate Aspartame Phase-Out

WHO Confirms Aspartame as a 'Possible Carcinogen'
Industry-Wide Aspartame 'Cut Losses' Expected to Continue
Speeding Up Development of Alternative Sweetener Recipes

The World Health Organization (WHO) has classified aspartame, an artificial sweetener used as a sugar substitute, as a possible carcinogen (Group 2B), prompting the food and distribution industries to rush to devise countermeasures. Regardless of the actual risk posed by aspartame, the Group 2B classification alone has spread negative perceptions among consumers, raising concerns that products containing aspartame may be shunned. As a result, the industry is expected to accelerate the search for alternative sweeteners.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Makgeolli Industry Caught in the Crossfire... Plans to Respond According to MFDS Guidelines

According to industry sources on the 14th, some products from major makgeolli companies such as Seoul Jangsu, Kooksoondang, and Jipyeong Brewery contain aspartame. Known to be 200 times sweeter than sugar, aspartame is a food additive used to provide sweetness in processed foods and is used in over 200 countries worldwide. In South Korea, it is used not only in makgeolli but also in soft drinks, chewing gum, and syrups, recently gaining attention as an alternative to sugar, which is linked to hypertension and obesity.

Makgeolli companies using aspartame are generally taken aback by the controversy, as they use only small amounts averaging around 0.0025% in some products in compliance with legal standards. According to the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS), an adult weighing 60 kg would have to drink 33 bottles of 750 ml makgeolli (containing 72.7 ml of aspartame) daily to reach the acceptable daily intake (ADI) of aspartame. The ADI refers to the amount of a substance per kilogram of body weight that can be consumed daily over a lifetime without harmful effects. This indicates that the use of aspartame itself is not currently considered problematic.

However, since the controversy has already grown, the industry plans to respond swiftly in line with guidelines set by relevant authorities. Nam Do-hee, Secretary General of the Korea Makgeolli Association, explained, “Government policies and MFDS standards need to be clearly established before we can accept changes and take concrete measures. Discussions are planned on whether to exclude aspartame from permitted additives or revise risk thresholds following WHO’s carcinogen classification. Currently, we have notified member companies of the MFDS’s risk thresholds and are closely monitoring the situation.”

Following WHO’s carcinogen designation, individual companies are expected to accelerate efforts to exclude aspartame from their products regardless of MFDS’s follow-up actions. Given the widespread information that aspartame is a possible carcinogen, companies believe it is more effective to emphasize that their products do not contain aspartame rather than trying to persuade consumers about its safety. Secretary General Nam said, “Since aspartame has been stigmatized as a carcinogen, concerns about reduced consumption are growing. From the companies’ perspective, where consumer response is paramount, research and development for applying alternative sweeteners will speed up in the short term.”

The makgeolli industry states that changing recipes to apply alternative sweeteners is not a major challenge. Many companies already have alternative recipes secured, and although some natural sweeteners may face supply issues due to difficulties in mass production, the technological and cost burdens are not significant. Additionally, the steady increase in makgeolli products without sweeteners, including those without aspartame, helps reduce industry concerns. An industry insider said, “Recipe changes are quite feasible. However, if additives are changed, there may be subtle differences in taste, which could require time for consumer evaluation.”

Food and Distribution Industries Busy Preparing Countermeasures... Searching for Alternative Ingredients

Lotte Chilsung Beverage 'Pepsi Zero Sugar'

Not only makgeolli companies but also food and beverage companies with products containing aspartame are actively preparing countermeasures. For example, Lotte Chilsung Beverage, which uses small amounts of aspartame in three Pepsi Zero variants (Lime, Mango, Black), is discussing with its global headquarters, PepsiCo, which holds manufacturing rights, whether to use alternative ingredients. Currently, Lotte Chilsung receives the concentrate from PepsiCo and bottles it domestically.

The confectionery industry is also seeking sweeteners to replace aspartame. It has been confirmed that some products from major confectionery companies Orion and Crown Confectionery contain aspartame. Orion’s products include about ten items such as Pokachip and Whale Snack, while Crown Confectionery has one product, Corn Chip Sweet Corn Flavor. Both companies plan to proactively start replacing raw materials since these products contain trace amounts of aspartame.

The distribution sector is also responding by replacing aspartame in their private brand products with other ingredients. E-Mart is negotiating with manufacturers to replace aspartame in No Brand Zero Cola, five sparkling aid products, and six snack items. Since ingredient replacement is expected to take about two months, E-Mart will sell remaining stock as is but will not produce additional units.

Lotte Mart has ten products containing aspartame, including popcorn, and plans to respond according to MFDS’s follow-up measures following WHO’s announcement. However, it does not plan to use aspartame in newly launched products. Homeplus has confirmed that about ten private brand snacks contain aspartame and is considering replacing it with other ingredients in line with government changes to food additive standards.

Food Industry on Alert Whether the ‘Zero Trend’ Will Slow Down

With aspartame classified as Group 2B, there is concern that consumers might avoid alternative sweeteners altogether, prompting the food industry to watch closely whether the ‘zero trend’ will slow down. The MFDS currently permits 22 types of sweeteners, including xylitol, sucralose, and saccharin sodium, for use in foods, and food companies use these sweeteners to reduce calories.

However, concerns about the safety of alternative sweeteners remain significant. According to a survey conducted by market research firm Embrain Trend Monitor in January this year targeting 1,000 adults, 40.7% responded that alternative sweeteners are ‘safe,’ while 41.2% said ‘safety cannot be guaranteed.’ Earlier in May, WHO also evaluated that non-sugar sweeteners (NSS) such as aspartame and sucralose have no long-term effectiveness for weight control and may even increase the risk of diabetes and heart disease.

On the other hand, some argue that the controversy surrounding aspartame is excessive. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), under WHO, classifies substances into five groups based on carcinogenicity and evidence levels. Group 2B, where aspartame is classified, indicates limited evidence in humans and insufficient animal data, meaning ‘possibly carcinogenic.’ Other Group 2B substances include pickled vegetables like kimchi and aloe. IARC classifies known carcinogens such as tobacco and asbestos as Group 1, and probable carcinogens like red meat and urethane as Group 2A.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.