The World Health Organization is preparing to release reports on the safety of aspartame, the artificial sweetener in Coke

Two upcoming reports by the World Health Organization (WHO) will address the safety of aspartame, an artificial sweetener commonly found in beverages like Diet Coke and Diet Pepsi. The WHO's International Agency for Research on Cancer will evaluate the potential carcinogenic effects of aspartame, while the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives will provide an updated risk assessment, including the acceptable daily intake and potential adverse effects. The reports will be released on July 14.

Last year, the US Department of Health and Human Services expressed concerns about the concurrent review of aspartame by both IARC and JECFA (administered by WHO and UN Food and Agriculture Organization). The WHO assured that the groups were working closely together to prevent divergent scientific opinions.

Since 1974, the US Food and Drug Administration has considered aspartame safe, but some have disputed this conclusion. The Center for Science in the Public Interest has nominated aspartame for evaluation by IARC due to concerns about its potential as a carcinogen.

The American Beverage Association stated that there is broad consensus in the scientific and regulatory community regarding the safety of aspartame. Coca-Cola Co. and PepsiCo Inc. declined to comment on the upcoming reports.

In addition to the aspartame safety reports, the WHO previously published a report in May stating that artificial sweeteners do not aid in weight loss.

The IARC assessment will classify aspartame into one of four categories: carcinogenic to humans, probably carcinogenic to humans, possibly carcinogenic to humans, or "not classifiable as to its carcinogenicity to humans."