However, the NutriNet-Sante study led by researchers at the University of Paris does not show that the risk was caused by aspartame and critics say its design, based on people self-reporting their real-world consumption of sweeteners, is a limitation.Erik Millstone, a professor of science policy at Britain's University of Sussex, said the French finding, while not authoritative, was likely to have been a factor in the IARC discussion. The French researchers declined to comment. "That's important – there are new data from new studies," Millstone said. "Plus, aspartame is just about the most widely used additive on the planet."

This sounds similar to the recent red meat hate by letting people self report how much red meat they have. Surprise those who eat a lot of fast food burgers that contain red meat are more unhealthy due to dietary choices unrelated to red meat.