Aspartame (NutraSweet, Equal)

The WHO's IARC classified aspartame as "possibly carcinogenic to humans" (Group 2B) in 2023, reigniting decades of controversy. While the FDA maintains its safety at approved levels, a 2022 French cohort study of 100,000 adults found a 15% increased cancer risk among high aspartame consumers, keeping the debate fiercely alive.