ECONOMY & WORK
MONEY 101
NEWS
PERSONAL FINANCE
NET WORTH
About Us Contact Us Privacy Policy Terms of Use DMCA Opt-out of personalized ads
© Copyright 2023 Market Realist. Market Realist is a registered trademark. All Rights Reserved. People may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.
MARKETREALIST.COM / NEWS

FTC Has Pulled up Food Influencers and Brands Over Paid Posts Promoting Artificial Sweeteners

A spokesperson for the American Beverage Association claimed that the group was transparent about the collaboration with the dieticians online. 
PUBLISHED DEC 29, 2023
Cover Image Source: Pexels | Michael Morse
Cover Image Source: Pexels | Michael Morse

In the age of viral trends, influencers are being paid to market an array of products, and they tend to make a larger impact since things that food influencers promote are more likely to find acceptance among young consumers. In light of the rising clout of social media content creators, The Federal Trade Commission has pulled up two food and beverage industry groups and more than a dozen social media influencers for not being transparent about their paid posts that promote artificial sweeteners and other similar sugary products. 

On the other hand, a spokesperson for the American Beverage Association named William M. Dermody Jr told the Associated Press that the group was transparent about the collaboration with the dieticians and influencers online.

Pexels | Breakingpic
Pexels | Breakingpic

As per The Washington Post, the food and beverage industry has paid many influencers on TikTok as well as Instagram to reportedly spread misinformation about the safety of the artificial sweetener, aspartame. The promotional campaign was intelligently designed to blunt the warnings which were issued by The World Health Organisation. Many influencers claimed that the WHO warnings were not based on proper information and facts. The campaign has reportedly reached more than 11 million people online.



 

The artificial sweetener is found in a variety of food as well as drinks including sugar-free soda and diet food. As per sources, around 6,000 products in the market use aspartame, while the WHO recommends that one should limit their daily intake of aspartame to 40 mg/kg body weight to avoid cancer-causing effects.

As per nutritionist Rebecca Heald, dietitians should base their advice on credible scientific evidence, but the internet and social media platforms have been known to amplify unverified claims and sensational information.

Limited intake of aspartame is not harmful to humans as it has undergone extensive safety testing and is considered safe for consumption by regulatory agencies like the FDA and EFSA. However, some individuals may have specific sensitivities or allergies to aspartame, resulting in adverse reactions.

A large quantity of aspartame can cause headaches as well as allergic reactions. Some studies have even found that it can disrupt natural appetite, potentially leading to overeating or cravings for sweeter, high-calorie foods, which, in turn, may affect gut health and contribute to weight gain.



 

Two separate committees at the World Health Organisation examined aspartame. The International Agency for Research on Cancer used a system to rank the potential of aspartame to cause cancer and it landed on 2B which means "possibly carcinogenic to humans."  The other committee however said that the evidence was not enough or convincing to prove that aspartame consumption and cancer are related. 

The bottom line is everything should be consumed in moderation and aspartame is no exception. It's a good idea to avoid the artificial sweeteners as much as possible. For starters, one should start reading the labels on any food item or beverage and conducting their own research instead of taking an influencer's word on it.

MORE ON MARKET REALIST
In an attempt to surprise Sandler, Spade ended up being more generous than he planned.
21 hours ago
The man's presence at a women-only poker event also sparked a huge online debate.
22 hours ago
He revealed that the piece of advice that changed his outlook toward money came from a celebrity business manager Lester Knispel.
1 day ago
The workers chose to stick to the company's core values and did the right thing.
1 day ago
The guest revealed that she didn't know about the trade mentioned on the disk when it was purchased.
1 day ago
The CEO at the local casino decided to make her birthday even more special by adding a gift to her winnings.
2 days ago
Sometimes things that don't shine turn out to be worth more than gold.
2 days ago
Spending on restaurants and hotels increased by 0.3 percent in May which was the single largest influence.
2 days ago
The Hollywood star said, "I've left more money on the table than any actor actually."
2 days ago
Many are now heading to the shop from far beyond the county to try their luck.
3 days ago
The duo also performed a cover of Adam Jenson's 2017 song “Street Fight”.
3 days ago
Pam, 83, said "I could have made a fortune, but it wasn’t to be. I’ve had a happier life than Marilyn ever had. I’ve no regrets."
4 days ago
Early 1980s was a special era as several rare coins were minted then.
4 days ago
According to reports, the fisherman from Puerto Princesa found the item over a decade ago while he was fishing in the sea.
4 days ago
For decades, the painting was hung in a shabby frame in the living room.
4 days ago
The asteroid was discovered by Italian astronomer Annibale de Gasparis on March 17, 1852, who named it after the Greek Goddess of the soul.
4 days ago
In the video, another friend can be heard gasping and noting how she thought that Maddie was 'exaggerating.'
5 days ago
The man from New Jersey who was looking to save a few bucks, didn't know what luck had in store for him.
5 days ago
In 2004, Ashley Revell from London won $270,000 in one of the most stunning events in gambling history.
5 days ago
One of the rarest Rolex watches in the world was kept in a safety deposit for decades, unworn.
5 days ago