Food industry disputes WHO guidelines on sweeteners and additives

Global agro-food industry representatives have expressed strong disagreement with recent guidelines from the World Health Organization (WHO). The WHO suggests that governments should regulate and discourage the use of non-nutritive sweeteners, flavorings, and added colors in processed foods to mitigate long-term metabolic risks.

Private sector manufacturers argue that these recommendations are disproportionate and lack uniform technical support. Industry groups maintain that current sweeteners and synthetic colors are safe under established Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI) limits. They also warn that severe restrictions could limit technological options for low-calorie products and create significant economic burdens due to the costs of product reformulation and ingredient substitution.