SENATOR Christopher “Bong” Go has asked the Department of Health (DoH) and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to inform the public about the potential health impact of artificial sweeteners.
In a statement, the Senate health committee chairman said artificial sweeteners such as aspartame, which have gained popularity as low-calorie sugar substitutes in recent years have been found to cause cancer.
They are commonly found in sugar-free and diet products, appealing to people who are conscious of their sugar intake and aiming to manage their weight.
The World Health Organization (WHO) recently categorized aspartame as a potentially carcinogenic substance, Mr. Go said.
DoH and FDA should explain the risks of sugar substitutes to Filipino consumers, he added. — Jan Jiminel Cacdac