Does Mio Cause Cancer? How Some Ingredients May Cause Cancer
Mio is a liquid water enhancer that is designed to help you customize plain water with different flavors, vitamins, and/or caffeine.
It is manufactured by the Kraft Heinz food company and comes in four different products: Mio Original, Mio Energy, Mio Vitamins, and Mio Electrolytes.
Mio claims to be a healthy water enhancer that can help you stay hydrated and avoid sugary drinks.
However, there are some potential side effects and health concerns associated with some of the ingredients found in Mio products. These include artificial sweeteners, synthetic dyes, and preservatives.
In this blog post, we will explore what these ingredients are, how they may affect your health, and whether there is any clear evidence of Mio causing cancer in humans.
Artificial Sweeteners
Artificial sweeteners are synthetic sugar substitutes that have virtually no calories and are about 200-600 times sweeter than sugar.
They are regulated by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as food additives.
Some of the artificial sweeteners found in Mio products are acesulfame potassium (Ace-K) and sucralose.
Most flavors contain both Ace-K and sucralose, while two of the five flavors from the Mio Vitamins line are naturally sweetened with stevia leaf extract.
Artificial sweeteners have been shown to have some negative side effects, although this is the subject of some debate.
One 2010 study found that the sweet taste of artificial sweeteners might increase sugar cravings and encourage sugar dependence.
Another study found that artificial sweeteners may alter the gut microbiome and affect metabolic health.
There is also some evidence that aspartame, another artificial sweetener, maybe possibly carcinogenic to humans. Aspartame was recently reclassified as a Group 2B substance by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), which means that there is limited but not convincing evidence for its cancer-causing potential.
Synthetic Dyes
Synthetic dyes are colorants that are added to food and beverages to enhance their appearance. Some of the synthetic dyes found in Mio products are tartrazine, allura red AC, and FD&C Blue No. 1.
Synthetic dyes have been linked to various health issues, such as allergic reactions, hyperactivity, asthma, and cancer.
One 2018 study found that exposure to tartrazine, a common synthetic dye, was associated with an increased risk of colorectal cancer.
Preservatives
Preservatives are substances that are added to food and beverages to prevent or delay microbial growth and spoilage.
Some of the preservatives found in Mio products are sodium benzoate and potassium sorbate.
Sodium benzoate is a food preservative that is a bit controversial because it can potentially turn into benzene, which is a carcinogen. However, it’s unclear how likely this is in Mio.
Potassium sorbate is a food preservative that is generally considered safe by the FDA.
Does Mio Cause Cancer?
As mentioned above, there is no clear evidence of Mio causing cancer in humans directly.
However, some of its ingredients include artificial sweeteners, synthetic dyes, and preservatives. Some of them may have been linked to various types of cancer in animal studies or human epidemiological studies.
Therefore, it’s important to consume Mio in moderation and be aware of its ingredients and effects on your health.
Also, read Is Mio Good for Diabetics?
The Bottom Line
We hope this blog post helps you understand more about Mio and its impact on your health.
If you have any questions or feedback, please let us know in the comments section below.
We would love to hear from you and learn more about your thoughts and opinions on this topic.
Thank you for reading!
