Aspartame, which is also present in yogurt, Coke Zero, Diet Coke, and chewing gum, is reported “possibly carcinogenic to humans”.

According to Dr. Mary Schubauer-Berigan of the WHO’s International Agency for Research on Cancer, there is “limited evidence” that the substance can cause liver cancer.

The WHO’s Department of Nutrition and Food Safety’s Dr. Francesco Branca advised individuals to avoid sweetened items altogether if at all possible.

“I think there should be a third alternative considered, which is to drink water instead, if customers are given the choice of taking cola with sweeteners or with sugar, he added.

“There are alternatives that do not contain either free sugars or sweeteners and those should be the products that should be preferred by consumers.”

It comes after the WHO in May released recommendations telling individuals not to consume sugar-free sweets in order to reduce weight.

According to the international body, the chemicals may also raise the risk of heart disease and type 2 diabetes.

The most recent conclusions from the WHO are based on three studies that claim an association between aspartame and liver cancer.

The chemical was categorized by the IARC as having cancer risks in Group 2B, along with aloe vera and caffeic acid, which is present in tea and coffee.

The organization’s Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JEFCA) determined that the current daily limits for aspartame are safe in a different report.

These are roughly 40mg per kilogram of body weight each day, or nine to fourteen cans.

This does not imply that individuals should seek to drink that much, according to independent experts, as it can result in additional issues like tooth erosion.

To be clear, this is not an advise to drink, said Dr. Duane Mellor of Aston University.

“High intakes of any soft drinks, including diet versions with sweeteners, are likely to result in the consumption of less healthy foods.”