Physicians have issued a reminder to the public that diet soda does not prevent or cure cancer, following comments from Donald Trump relayed by Dr Mehmet Oz on a podcast with Donald Trump Jr. Oz, a cardiothoracic surgeon and head of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, recounted Trump's argument that diet soda kills grass and therefore must kill cancer cells inside the body.
Speaking on Triggered with Don Jr, Oz said Trump defended his consumption of Fanta by joking it was 'fresh squeezed' and good for him because it kills cancer cells. Trump has long defended his preference for sweet drinks and fast food, claiming it helps him stay healthy by avoiding illness through quality control at large chains.
Most diet sodas contain aspartame, an artificial sweetener classified by the International Agency for Research on Cancer as 'possibly carcinogenic to humans' (Group 2B), based on limited evidence of a potential link to liver cancer. However, this classification indicates weak evidence, not a proven risk. A 2022 French study of over 100,000 participants found a 15% higher cancer risk associated with aspartame, but did not establish causation.
Research has also suggested aspartame may affect the gut microbiome, with potential metabolic consequences. Havovi Chichger, an associate professor at Anglia Ruskin University, noted growing awareness of health impacts from sweeteners like aspartame, including damage to intestinal walls and gut bacteria. However, no scientific evidence supports the claim that diet soda can kill cancer cells.
Dr Zachary Rubin, a Chicago-based paediatric immunologist, dismissed the logic, saying: 'If Fanta is able to kill grass, then it could kill cancer cells... by the same logic, that would mean that bleach is a superfood, which we all know doesn't make any sense.' He referenced Trump's past comments during the Covid pandemic, highlighting the flawed reasoning.
