To those knowledgeable about cancer causes, the role of fake (artificial) sweeteners in many beverages these days probably make you not want to drink anything but water. Personally, I banned all soft drinks many years ago regardless of the presence of real or fake sweeteners. It was very hard, yes -- but now after researching the role of Aspartame and other fake sweeteners in the role of cancer, I'll never go back.

Which brings us to the might and oddly bizarre FDA. That federal agency again has swept aside the growing evidence of the artificial sweetener Aspartame contributing to cancer. Another study was released this week that showed this connection, but health officials are making excuses once again.

Yes, there is the commercial interests at play here (like always) with the sweetener companies themselves, but with so much evidence that connects Aspartame with cancer, it's just amazing a ban has not come forward yet.

One of my good friends uses artificial sweeteners as a substitute for sugar, and she has been doing so for years. I wrinkle my nose mostly because I do not care for the metallic taste, and I am one of those people who believes if there is smoke there might be fire. The aspartame controversy has raged on for years, each side steadfast in their flame-fanning research-supported stated opinions.

Putting my personal preference and belief aside, I am sharing with you that The Calorie Control Council, established in 1966, as an international non-profit association representing the low-calorie and reduced-fat food and beverage industry, has released the results of a National Cancer Institute five-year epidemiology study indicating there is no risk between aspartame and cancer. For those who believe in the safety of aspartame, this conclusion will come as a welcome relief from worry. For those who strongly believe aspartame is a dangerous chemical, all I can say is -- do not shoot the messenger. I realize in an attempt to fairly report all things cancer-related and give both sides a voice, someone is not going to be happy about it. And if the past is any indicator of the future, I am sure this will not be the last word on the aspartame subject.

Last July, Dr. Morando Soffritti, European Ramazzini Foundation of Oncology and Environmental Sciences director, of Bologna, Italy, published research findings linking aspartame to lymphoma, leukemia and cancer in rats. Dr. Soffritti's study alarmed many people who use artificial sweeteners, and sparked a controversial debate among scientists and consumers. Dr. Soffritti's study involved 1,900 rats that had been given daily doses of the sweetener equivalent to four to five 20-ounce bottles of diet soda for a 150-pound person. Part of the reasoning behind the new study to examine the findings of Dr. Soffritti's original study, is that he allowed rats in his study to live three years, as opposed to the normal two years research rats live. Two rat years is equivalent to 53 human years. His argument for studying rats an additional year, is that cancer is a disease striking most people in the third part of life. In all fairness, the controversy regarding the safety of aspartame began years ago, and evokes strong debate, and conflicting evidence, on both sides of the aspartame argument. The new study will be published in the United States later this year. Do you think artificial sweeteners are safe?