Health Canada announced it is reviewing the summary assessments by the WHO’s International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) and JECFA published on July 13, 2023, and will review the full reports for each assessment once they are released.
The department will determine whether action on aspartame is needed to protect Canadians, taking into consideration the scientific details from the full reports and information specific to the Canadian context for aspartame. Action Health Canada could take, if necessary, includes reducing one or more maximum levels of use for aspartame, further restricting which foods it may be used in, or no longer permitting it to be used as a food additive.
