Coca-Cola runs advertising campaign defending use of aspartame

(http://www.takepart.com/article/2013/08/14/coke-defends-aspartame) Coca-Cola has begun an advertising campaign to try to convince consumers that aspartame is safe for consumption. The advertisements were printed in Wednesday's copies of of USA Today distributed in the Atlanta area.

"Time and again, these low- and no-calorie sweeteners have shown to be safe, high-quality alternatives to sugar," reads the ad copy. "In fact, the safety of aspartame is supported by more than 200 studies over the last 40 years."

The ad makes no mention of the studies linking aspartame to cancer and other adverse health effects.

In 2012, a study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition linked aspartame to cancer. Although the study was at first claimed to be definitive, scientists reviewing the study claimed that the data was too weak to be definitive. Despite this, a weak link exists and the safety of aspartame can not be affirmed.

While Coca-Cola has plenty of profit at risk (their Diet Coke sales were down 3% last year) and are supported by the FDA (which doesn't have the best safety track record), its consumers have much more at risk, their health and livelihood. Some organizations, such as the Center for Science in the Public Interest, suggest that the best course of action would be a full ban on the chemical.