Aspartame sweetener, used in Diet Coke, will be declared by the World Health Organization’s cancer research agency as a possible carcinogen, according to a report.

The substance, the most commonly used artificial sweeteners, will be considered “possibly carcinogenic to humans” for the first time by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), Reuters reports.

The IARC has two more serious categories, “probably carcinogenic to humans” and “carcinogenic to humans”.

The report, citing two sources, indicates the IARC ruling is intended to assess whether something is a potential hazard or not, based on all the published evidence. It should be noted, however, that, according to Reuters, the findings do not take into account how much of a product a person can safely consume.

The Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) has been reviewing aspartame use this year. According to a report, both JECFA and IARC are set to make their findings public on July 14.

“IARC has assessed the potential carcinogenic effect of aspartame (hazard identification),” an IARC spokesperson confirmed to the Guardian.

“Following this, the joint FAO/WHO expert committee on food additives will update its risk assessment exercise on aspartame, including the reviewing of the acceptable daily intake and dietary exposure assessment for aspartame. The result of both evaluations will be made available together, on 14 July 2023.”

Mark Heim is a reporter for The Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @Mark_Heim. He can be heard on “The Opening Kickoff” on WNSP-FM 105.5 FM in Mobile or on the free Sound of Mobile App from 6 to 9 a.m. daily.