Gesualdo, Matthew K
(2024)
There’s No Sugar Coating It: Aspartame Does Not Pose A Public Health Risk.
Master Essay, University of Pittsburgh.
Abstract
Aspartame is an artificial sweetener found in thousands of food products with a few notable ones being diet sodas, chewing gum, and frozen meals. Because Aspartame contains significantly less calories than traditional sugar, many have turned to it as a healthier alternative to sugar in their diet. Speculation over negative health effects associated with Aspartame have persisted since its inception in the late 1960’s with the idea of a 0 calorie sweetener being “too good to be true” to many. To this day, Aspartame has been subject to hundreds of studies and public criticism attempting to justify calls for increased regulation or an all out ban. In 2023, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classified Aspartame as a Group 2B carcinogen once again sparking the latest bout of controversy and discussion. Despite all of the efforts over the years, no sound evidence is yet to be brought forward proving that Aspartame consumption causes negative health effects.
This essay will explore the biology of Aspartame, its regulatory and approval process, media portrayal, supporting and opposing studies, and ultimately, provide a stance of whether or the public should be concerned about Aspartame consumption in their day to day lives. Aspartame serves as a cautionary tale showing how leniency with the scientific method and external biases can create a long-lasting narrative not based in fact. The public health significance of this topic is that the public remains unsure of the safety of Aspartame, indicative of a larger issue of how scientific information is disseminated and communicated.
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| Item Type: |
Other Thesis, Dissertation, or Long Paper
(Master Essay)
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| Status: |
Unpublished |
| Creators/Authors: |
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| Contributors: |
| Contribution | Contributors Name | Email | Pitt Username | ORCID  |
|---|
| Committee Chair | Peterson, Jim | jimmyp@pitt.edu | jimmyp | UNSPECIFIED | | Committee Member | Nixon, Marily | marilynixon@pitt.edu | marilynixon | UNSPECIFIED |
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| Date: |
26 June 2024 |
| Date Type: |
Completion |
| Submission Date: |
20 June 2024 |
| Access Restriction: |
No restriction; Release the ETD for access worldwide immediately. |
| Number of Pages: |
39 |
| Institution: |
University of Pittsburgh |
| Schools and Programs: |
School of Public Health > Environmental and Occupational Health |
| Degree: |
MPH - Master of Public Health |
| Thesis Type: |
Master Essay |
| Refereed: |
Yes |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: |
aspartame, sugar, glucose, sucrose, FDA, obesity, blood sugar, artificial sweetener |
| Date Deposited: |
27 Jun 2024 02:45 |
| Last Modified: |
27 Jun 2024 02:45 |
| URI: |
http://d-scholarship.pitt.edu/id/eprint/46566 |
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