Confusing sugar wars: Defying West, India will go its own sweet way on aspartame
India (FSSAI), banned stevia, a natural sweetener, in 2011, and then reversed its decision and approved it in 2015. It currently approved the use of several artificial sweeteners including the controversial aspartame, which is going to be declared a possible carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), the World Health Organization's (WHO) cancer research arm, Reuters has reported.
The lack of scientific clarity on whether or how much sweeteners are harmful for human consumption has led to regulatory confusion. From diet colas to chewing gums, ice creams, cakes and now even popular Indian sweets, like Kalakand and Ras malai, sugar substitutes and non-sugar sweeteners are being widely used commercially to cater to the demand of the health conscious and the weight watchers.
After reports of the WHO body's plans to declare aspartame a possible carcinogen, the FSSAI says it would not necessarily follow what international agencies say on the issue. «We don't have to follow the West or East as India is in a powerful situation..we are working on what the effect of consuming aspartame or other sweeteners can have on the Indian population,» FSSAI Advisor HS Oberoi said on Thursday, while addressing a conclave by the Indian Beverages Association (IBA), which represents Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, Red Bull and Dabur among other beverage companies.
Oberoi said the FSSAI would define guidelines and thresholds of usage of artificial sweeteners based on its own risk assessment studies and in consultation with all stakeholders, including foods and beverages companies, scientists and government agencies. «Our scientific panel is examining and evaluating the WHO guideline in detail,» an FSSAI spokesperson had told ET in
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