If you surf the internet, you’ve undoubtedly seen a headline (or five) claiming that low-calorie sweeteners cause everything from cancer to weight gain. These warnings may make for good headlines, but Pratik Thakkar, the owner of an online fitness company, says the science simply doesn’t back up these claims.

In a piece for Mensxp, Thakkar says reporting on scientific studies is regularly inaccurate because oftentimes reporters, “did not read, or understand the research.”

Context is everything. Thakarr points to a study on rats that prompted the claim that aspartame is linked to cancer. Well, what the news stories fail to mention, according to Thakarr, is that the rats were given the human equivalent of 2,100 cans of diet soda a day.

On the other hand, says Thakarr, a 2006 study by National Cancer Institute, which looked at more than half a million humans – not rats – found that, “Participants who regularly consumed beverages containing aspartame did not have an increased risk of cancer compared to those who did not consume them.”

What’s more, regulatory agencies around the world, including the World Health Organization, U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the European Food Safety Authority, have repeatedly found these ingredients safe.

Thakarr’s takeaway from all of this: “Do not believe everything that the media tries to tell you, especially when it comes to research studies and their findings.” We think that’s some solid advice.