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.

    • Sassy@lemm.ee
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      1 year ago

      Fuck yes. Why is there sugar added to applesauce and fruit juice? Why is it so hard to find low calorie drinks that don’t contain artificial sweeteners? The way to curb sugar intake is moderation.

      • Myrhial@discuss.online
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        1 year ago

        Sugar is antibacterial, hence why honey can stay good like forever. It’s a cheap way to increase shelf life that also makes people really like the food because we evolutionary seek that stuff out. It’s not right though. We work long hours so convenient foods should allow us to buy back some time. But when they’re all like this, you end up either having to do it yourself or risk your health. There should absolutely be limits. But with food costs as they are, who is going to fight for that? The alternatives are more expensive, or you reduce shelf life. It’s much better regulated here in the EU but we too are still not there, obesity is still on the rise.

        • oce 🐆@jlai.lu
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          1 year ago

          It’s tasty, cheap, antibacterial and gives attractive colors (caramel). That’s why companies like to put it everywhere, it’s just awfully convenient.

      • Aceticon@lemmy.world
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        1 year ago

        Were I live sugar is added to cider, making it basically extra sweet apple juice with a touch of alchool.

        • CanadianCorhen@lemmy.ca
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          1 year ago

          Oh god, Okanagan Cider is so, super sweet. Might as well drink sugar water with added alcohol.

          I live near a cidery, and everything is a dry or semi-dry. So much better.

      • Urbanfox@lemmy.world
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        1 year ago

        I live in the UK and was astounded at the sugar consumption when I visited the US.

        The most interesting one was bread - it was so sweet, almost like cake, while our bread is just plan savoury bread.

        There seems to be an OTT approach to added sweetness that I thought was bad in the UK but is next level in north America.

        Another key difference was the milk in coffee shops. I went into Double cup and found some half and half (semi skimmed milk?) and dumped a bunch of it in my coffee. Nope literally half cream half milk. Blllerchhhh.

        That just doesn’t even exist over here.

      • ඞmir@lemmy.ml
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        1 year ago

        You can also just get fruity syrup and make syrup juice with a lot of water.

    • quadropiss@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      Nope, not an option. If I want a glass of coke after I brushed my teeth - I don’t want any sugar in it

      • Urbanfox@lemmy.world
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        1 year ago

        Drinking coke - sugar free or otherwise - right after you brush your teeth will still fuck up your teeth.

        It’s rammed full of acid.

        • quadropiss@lemmy.world
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          1 year ago

          Except it doesn’t stay in your mouth for hours because you salivate. With sugar, judging by how my mouth feels, the bacteria stays and probably has a whole ass banquet for hours after