(North Carolina News Service) Recent news headlines about the possible cancer risks from using the common artificial sweetener aspartame might have alarmed people who eat and drink products that contain it. 

Now, other organizations are looking more closely at those findings. 

The International Agency for Research on Cancer, and a World Health Organization expert committee have labeled aspartame a "possible carcinogenic." 

However, Hope Warshaw - dietician and secretary of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Foundation - said she believes the report may be misleading to consumers and wants to call attention to what the research didn't say. 

"The WHO body made no change to what's known as the 'acceptable daily intake,'" said Warshaw, "and they did this because they felt there was no new research and there was insufficient evidence to make a change."

Based on a review of several studies by the two separate committees, she said they found "limited" evidence suggesting a potential link between aspartame and liver cancer.

In its own statement, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration also disagrees with the conclusion.

It says the WHO labeling aspartame as a "possible" carcinogen doesn't mean that it is actually linked to cancer and is based on what the agency calls "limited research." 

Warshaw said she's leaning on the science - and as a dietician, she said she feels the sweetener is still a reliable tool and alternative. 

"I still recommend," said Warshaw, "if people so choose, to use aspartame - and products that it is used in - to achieve their nutrition goals and quench their sweet tooth."

The FDA noted that it will continue to monitor the latest science available on sweeteners. 

Warshaw underscored the most important thing a consumer can do is look to trusted evidence when making decisions.