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Revealed: WHO aspartame safety panel linked to alleged Coca-Cola front group (www.theguardian.com)

submitted 1 year ago by NightOwl@lemm.ee to c/worldnews@lemmy.ml

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It uncovered eight WHO panelists involved with assessing safe levels of aspartame consumption who are beverage industry consultants who currently or previously worked with the alleged Coke front group, International Life Sciences Institute (Ilsi).

Their involvement in developing intake guidelines represents “an obvious conflict of interest”, said Gary Ruskin, US Right-To-Know’s executive director. “Because of this conflict of interest, [the daily intake] conclusions about aspartame are not credible, and the public should not rely on them,” he added.

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[-] DarkWasp@lemmy.world 54 points 1 year ago

I was under the impression the research showed that there was a risk but you needed to consume an exorbitant amount to get there. Around 20+ cans of coke a day which the majority of people don’t do.

[-] dingus@lemmy.ml 13 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

Around 20+ cans of coke a day which the majority of people don’t do.

This guy has never met an American. Ever heard of a Big Gulp? We literally had private companies engineer bigger soda cups to handle how much fucking soda Americans drink.

[-] jonsnowman@lemmy.world 30 points 1 year ago

I dont necessarily disagree with your overall point about Americans drinking a lot of soda, but I don't think pointing out that a company makes a cup a little smaller than 3 cans of soda is a very strong counterargument to the claim that it takes 20+ to be harmful...

[-] dingus@lemmy.ml 13 points 1 year ago

The largest Big Gulp is 50oz and when I was a kid, people leaned on free refills for them. A 50oz is almost a whole 2-liter.

You're not wrong, it's not the best example, but I've seen people go through numerous Big Gulps a day.

Hell, when I worked overnight as a security guard, one of my fellow guards who drink an entire 2-liter of Mountain Dew to himself every night.

It's hard for me to think about because I can't even get through a whole 16oz without stopping halfway because it's too syrupy.

[-] chakan2@lemmy.world 9 points 1 year ago

A 2 liter a day is still miles away from the amount you'd need to drink to reach unsafe levels.

I think you'd have to drink 3+ a day before you're at unsafe levels if you're 150lbs (and...well...if we are shitting on eating habits, 150 is a very light American).