Korean food, beverage companies seek aspartame alternatives after WHO decision

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South Korean retailers and food and beverage companies are busy finding replacements for aspartame, following the World Health Organization’s (WHO) designation of the widely-used sweetener as a possible cancer cause.

On Thursday, the WHO said that aspartame should be categorized as “possibly carcinogenic to humans.” The sweetener is found commonly in products like diet sodas and sugar-free gum.

Following the announcement, Korean food and beverage companies are hurrying to find replacements.

Manufacturers of makgeolli, or rice wine, are seeking countermeasures as aspartame is not only used as a sweetener but also as a preservative to prevent product spoilage.

“We plan to discuss with the makgeolli association and peer breweries after the announcement from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety,” said an official from makgeolli brewery Seoul Jangsoo Co.

The confectionery industry is also seeking alternatives to aspartame.

“We have actively started to replace raw materials,” said an official from Orion Corp, which uses aspartame in around 10 products.

Crown Confectionery Co. also stated that it is testing alternative sweeteners.

Lotte Chilsung Beverage Co. is reportedly in discussions with PepsiCo Inc. regarding measures for aspartame. Lotte Chilsung has three Pepsi Zero products that use aspartame.

Retailers are also taking steps to replace aspartame in their in-house products with other ingredients.

Emart Inc. is in talks with manufacturers to replace aspartame in its in-brand diet coke, five sparkling aid products, and six snacks.

The remaining inventory of these products will still be available on shelves during the two-month replacement period, with no plans for additional production of these items.

Other discount store chains, Lotte Mart and Homeplus are reportedly waiting for government announcements before taking action.

Lotte Mart currently has 10 aspartame-containing products in their in-house brand product lines, while Homeplus has about 10.

The food safety authority currently allows the use of 22 types of sweeteners in food, including xylitol, sucralose, and sodium saccharin, which companies use to reduce calorie content.

However, there are contrasting views regarding the safety of these alternative sweeteners.

In May, the WHO stated that non-sugar sweeteners such as aspartame and sucralose may increase the risk of diabetes and heart disease, with no long-term effect on weight control.