Product Alert – What's in your products?

Asparatame… Will it take your life or your childs!

Written by Concerned

Aspartame is the technical name for the brand names, NutraSweet,
Equal, Spoonful, and Equal-Measure. Aspartame was discovered by
accident in 1965, when James Schlatter, a chemist of G.D. Searle
Company was testing an anti-ulcer drug. Aspartame was approved for
dry goods in 1981 and for carbonated beverages in 1983. (Actually,
it was originally approved for dry goods on July 26, 1974, but
objections filed by neuroscience researcher Dr. John W. Olney and
Consumer attorney James Turner in August 1974 as well as
investigations of G.D. Searle’s research practices caused the FDA to
put approval of aspartame on hold). In 1985, Monsanto purchased
G.D. Searle and made Searle Pharmaceuticals and The NutraSweet
Company separate subsidiaries.

Aspartame is, by far, the most dangerous substance on the market that
is added to foods. Aspartame accounts for over 75 percent of the
adverse reactions to food additives reported to the U.S. Food and
Drug Administration (FDA). Many of these reactions are very serious
including seizures and death as recently disclosed in a February 1994
Department of Health and Human Services report.[1] A few of the 90
different documented symptoms listed in the report as being caused by
aspartame include:

Headaches/Migraines Dizziness
Seizures Nausea
Numbness Muscle spasms
Weight gain Rashes
Depression Fatigue
Irritability Tachycardia
Insomnia Vision Problems
Hearing Loss Heart palpitations
Breathing difficulties Anxiety attacks
Slurred Speech Loss of taste
Tinnitus Vertigo
Memory loos Joint Pain

According to researchers and physicians studying the adverse effects
of aspartame, the following chronic illnesses can be triggered or
worsened by ingesting of aspartame[2]:

Brain tumors Multiple sclerosis
Epilepsy Chronic faigue syndrome
Parkinson’s Disease Alzheimer’s
Mental retardation Lymphoma
Birth defects Fibromyalgia
Diabetes

Aspartame is made up of three chemicals, aspartic acid,
phenylalanine, and methanol. The book, “Prescription for Nutritional
Healing” by James and Phyllis Balch lists aspartame under the category
of “Chemical Poison.” As you shall see, that is exactly what it is.

Aspartic Acid (40% of aspartame) & Glutamic acid (99% of MSG)
————————————————————-
Dr. Russell L. Blaylock, a professor of Neurosurgery at the
Medical University of Mississippi, recently published a book
thoroughly detailing the damage that is caused by the ingestion of
excessive aspartic acid from aspartame and glutamic acid from MSG.
Dr. Blaylock uses almost 500 scientific references to prove how excess
free excitatory amino acids such as aspartic acid and glutamic acid
in our food supply are causing serious chronic neurological
disorders and a myriad of other acute symptoms.[3]

Summary of How Glutamate and Aspartate Cause Damage
—————————————————
Aspartate and glutamate act as neurotransmitters in the brain by
facilitating the transmittion of information from neuron to neuron.
Too much aspartate or glutamate in the brain kills certain neurons
by allowing the influx of too much calcium into the cells. This
influx triggers excessive amounts of free radicals which kill the
cells. The neural cell damage that can be caused by excessive
aspartate and glutamate is why they are referred to as
“excitotoxins.” They “excite” or stimulate the neural cells to
death.

Aspartic acid is an amino acid. Taken in its free form (unbound
to proteins) it significantly raises the blood plasma level of
aspartate and glutamate. The excess aspartate and glutamate in
the blood plasma shortly after ingesting aspartame or products
with free glutamic acid (glutamate precursor) leads to a high
level of those neurotransmitters in certain areas of the brain.

The blood brain barrier (BBB) which normally protects the brain from
excess glutamate and aspartate as well as toxins 1) is not fully
developed during childhood, 2) does not fully protect all areas of the
brain, 3) is damaged by numerous chronic and acute conditions, and
4) allows seepage of excess glutamate and aspartate into the brain
even when intact.

The excess glutamate and aspartate slowly begin to destroy neurons.
The large majority (75%+) of neural cells in a particular area of
the brain are killed before any clinical symptoms of a chronic illness
are noticed. A few of the many chronic illnesses that have been
shown to be contributed to by long-term exposure excitatory amino
acid damage include:

MS
ALS
Memory Loss
Hormonal Problems
Hearing Loss
Epilepsy
Alzheimer’s Disease
Parkinson’s Disease
Hypoglycemia
AIDS Dementia
Brain Lessions
Neuroendocrine Disorders

The risk to infants, children, pregnant women, the elderly, and
persons with certain chronic health problems from excitotoxins are
great. Even the Federation of American Societies For Experimental
Biology (FASEB), which usually understates problems and mimmicks the
FDA party-line, recently stated in a review that “it is prudent to
avoid the use of dietary supplements of L-glutamic acid by pregnant
women, infants, and children. The Existence of evidence of potential
endocrine responses, i.e., elevated cortisol and prolactin, and
differential responses between males and females, would also suggest
a neuroendocrine link and that supplemental L-glutamic acid should be
avoided by women of childbearing age and individuals with affective
disorders.”[4] Aspartic acid from aspartame has the same
deleterious effects on the body as glutamic acid.

The exact mechanism of acute reactions to excess free glutamate and
aspartate is currently being debated. As reported to the FDA, those
reactions include [5]:

Headaches/Migraines
Nausea
Abdominal Pains
Fatigue (blocks sufficient glucose entry into brain)
Sleep Problems
Vision Problems
Anxiety attacks
Depression
Asthma/Chest Tightness

One common complaint of persons suffering from the effect of
aspartame is memory loss. Ironically, in 1987, G.D. Searle, the
manufacturer of aspartame, undertook a search for a drug to combat
memory loss caused by excititory amino acid damage.

Dr. Blaylock is one of many scientists and physicians who are
concerned about excititory amino acid damage caused by ingestion of
aspartame and MSG. A few of the many experts who have spoken out
against the damage being caused by aspartate and glutamate include:

– Adrienne Samuels, Ph.D. — an experimental Psychologist
specializing in research design.

– John W. Olney, MD — a Professor in the Department of Psychiatry,
School of Medicine, Washington University. He is a
Neuroscientist and researcher, and one of the world’s foremost
authorities on excitotoxins. (He informed Searle in 1971 that
aspartic acid caused holes in the brain of mice.)

– Francis J. Waickman, MD — a recipient of the Rinkel and Forman
Awards and Board certified in Pediatrics, Allergy and
Immunology.

– John R. Hain, MD — Board Certified Forensic Pathologist

– H.J. Roberts, MD, FACP, FCCP — Diabetic Specialist, Who’s Who in
American, The World, Science and Technology, and selected by a
national medical publication as “The Best Doctor in the U.S.”

– John Samuels — Compiled a listed of scientific research
sufficient to show the dangers of ingesting excess free glutamic
and aspartic acid.

… and many more.

Phenylalanine (50% of aspartame)
——————————-
Phenylalanine is an amino acid normally found in the brain. Persons
with the genetic disorder, phenylketonuria (PKU) cannot metabolize
phenylalanine. This leads to dangerously high levels of
phenylalanine in the brain (sometimes lethal).

It has been shown that ingesting aspartame, especially along with
carbohydrates can lead to excess levels of phenylalanine in the
brain even in persons who do not have PKU. This is not just a
theory, as many people who have eaten large amounts of aspartame
over a long period of time and do not have PKU have been shown to
have excessive levels of phenylalanine in the blood. Excessive
levels of phenylalanine in the brain can cause the levels of
seratonin in the brain to decrease, leading to emotional disorders
such as depression. It was shown in human testing that phenylalanine
levels of the blood were increased significantly in human subjects
who chronically used aspartame.[6] Even a single use of aspartame
raised the blood phenylalanine levels. In his testimony before the
U.S. Congress, Dr. Louis J. Elsas showed that high blood
phenylalanine can be concentrated in parts of the brain, and is
especially dangerous for infants and fetuses. He also showed that
phenylalanine is metabolised much more effeciently by rodents than by
humans.[7]

One account of a case of extremely high phenylalanine levels caused
by aspartame was recently published the the “Wednesday Journal” in an
article entitled “An Aspartame Nightmare.” John Cook began
drinking 6 to 8 diet drinks every day. His symptoms started out as
memory loss and frequent headaches. He began to crave more
aspartame-sweetened drinks. His condition deteriorated so much that
he experienced wide mood swings and violent rages. Even though he
did not suffer from PKU, a blood test revealed a phenylalanine level
of 80 mg/dl. He also showed abnormal brain function and brain
damage. After he kicked his aspartame habit, his symptoms improved
dramatically.[8]

As Dr. Blaylock points out in his book, early studies measuring
phenylalanine buildup in the brain were flawed. Investigators who
measured specific brain regions and not the average throughout the
brain notice significant rises in phenylalanine levels. Specifically
the hypothalamus, medulla oblongata, and corpus striatum areas of the
brain had the largest increases in phenylalanine. Dr. Blaylock
goes on to point out that excessive buildup of phenylalanine in the
brain can cause schizophrenia or make one more susceptible to seizures.

Therefore, long-term, excessive use of aspartame may provided a
boost to sales of seratonin reuptake inhibitors such as Prozac and
drugs to control schizophrenia and seizures.

Methanol (aka wood alcohol/poison) (10% of aspartame)
—————————————————–
Methanol/wood alcohol is a deadly poison. Some people may remember
methanol as the poison that has caused some “skid row” alcoholics to
end up blind or dead. Methanol is gradually released in the small
intestine when the methyl group of aspartame encounter the enzyme
chymotrypsin.

The absorption of methanol into the body is sped up considerably when
free methanol is ingested. Free methanol is created from aspartame
when it is heated to above 86 Fahrenheit (30 Centigrade). This would
occur when aspartame-containing product is improperly stored or when
it is heated (e.g., as part of a “food” product such as Jello).

Methanol breaks down into formic acid and formaldehyde in the body.
Formaldehyde is a deadly neurotoxin. An EPA assessment of
methanol states that methanol “is considered a cumulative poison
due to the low rate of excretion once it is absorbed. In the body,
methanol is oxidized to formaldehyde and formic acid; both of these
metabolites are toxic.” The recommend a limit of consumption of
7.8 mg/day. A one-liter (approx. 1 quart) aspartame-sweetened
beverage contains about 56 mg of methanol. Heavy users of
aspartame-containing products consume as much as 250 mg of methanol
daily or 32 times the EPA limit.[9]

Symptoms from methanol poisoning include headaches, ear buzzing,
dizziness, nausea, gastrointestinal disturbances, weakness, vertigo,
chills, memory lapses, numbness and shooting pains in the
extremities, behavioral disturbances, and neuritis. The most
well knowm problems from methanol poisoning are vision problems
including misty vision, progressive contraction of visual fields,
blurring of vision, obscuration of vision, retinal damage, and
blindness. Formaldehye is a known carcinogen, causes retinal
damage, interferes with DNA replication, causes birth defects. [10]

Due to the lack of a couple of key enzymes, humans are many times
more sensitive to the toxic effects of methanol than animals.
Therefore, tests of aspartame or methanol on animals do not
accurately reflect the danger for humans. As pointed out by Dr.
Woodrow C. Monte, Director of the Food Science and Nutrition
Laboratory at Arizona State University, “There are *no* human or
mammalian studies to evaluate the possible mutagenic, teratogenic,
or carcinogenic effects of chronic administration of methyl
alcohol.”[11]

He was so concerned about the unresolved safety issues that he
filed suit with the FDA requesting a hearing to address these issues.
He asked the FDA to “slow down on this soft drink issue long enough
to answer some of the important questions. It’s not fair that you
are leaving the full burden of proof on the few of us who are
concerned and have such limited resources. You must remember that
you are the American public’s last defense. Once you allow usage (of
aspartame) there is literally nothing I or my colleagues can do to
reverse the course. Aspartame will then join saccharin, the
sulfiting agents, and God knows how many other questionable compounds
enjoined to insult the human constitution with governmental
approval.”[10] Shortly thereafter, the Commissioner of the FDA, Arthur
Hull Hayes, Jr., approved the use of aspartame in carbonated
beverages and then left for a position with G.D. Searle’s Public
Relations firm.[11]

It has been pointed out that some fruit juices and alcoholic
beverages contain small amounts of methanol. It is important to
remember, however, that methanol never appears alone. In every case,
ethanol is present, usually in much higher amounts. Ethanol is an
antidote for methanol toxicity in humans.[9]

The troops of Desert Storm were “treated” to large amounts of
aspartame-sweetened beverages which had been heated to over 86 F
in the Saudi Arabian sun. Many of them returned home with numerous
disorders similar to what has been seen in persons who have been
chemically poisoned by formaldehyde. The free methanol in the
beverages may have been a contributing factor in these illnesses.

In a 1993 act that can only be described as “unconscionable,” the
FDA approved aspartame as an ingredient in numerous food items that
would always be heated to above 86 F (30 C).

Diketopiperazine (DKP)
———————-
DKP is a breakdown product of aspartame. DKP has been implicated
in the occurance of brain tumors. Dr. John Olney noticed that DKP,
when nitrosated in the gut, produced a compound which was similar to
N-nitrosourea, a powerful brain tumor causing chemical. G.D.
Searle conducted animal experiments on the safety of DKP. The FDA
found numerous experimental errors occured, including “clerical
errors, mixed-up animals, animals not getting drugs they were supposed
to get, pathological specimens lost because of improper handling,” and
many other errors.[12] These sloppy laboratory procedures may explain
why both the test and control animals had sixteen times more brain
tumors than would be expected in experiments of this length.

Here is some breakdown info:

Date of 6 Months 36 Months
Bottling After After
Bottling Bottling

Aspartame 550.0 mg 155.34 mg 19.70 mg

L-phenylalanine methyl
ester 0.0 mg 28.62 mg 13.01 mg

DKP 0.0 mg 135.66 mg 173.28 mg

L-aspartylphenylalanine 0.0 mg 158.31 mg 189.05 mg

L-phenylalanine 0.0 mg 42.22 mg 101.27 mg

Reference
———
Tsang, Wing-Sum, et al., 1985. “Determination of Aspartame
and Its Breakdown Products in Soft Drinks by Reverse-
Phase Chromatography with UV Detection,” Journal
Agriculture and Food Chemistry, Vol. 33, No. 4, page 734-
738.

In an ironic twist, shortly after these experimental errors were
discovered, the FDA used guidelines recommened by G.D. Searle
to devlop the Industry-wide FDA standards for Good Laboratory
Practies.[11]

DKP has also been implicated as a cause of uterine polyps and changes
in blood cholesterol by FDA Toxicologist Dr. Jacqueline Verrett in
her testimony before the U.S. Senate.[13]

———————-

The components of aspartame can lead to a wide variety of ailments.
Some of these problems occur gradually, others are immediate, acute
reactions. There is an enormous population of people who are
suffering from symtpoms contributed to by aspartame, yet they have no
idea why herbs or drugs are not helping relieve their problems.
There are other users of aspartame who *appear* not to be suffering
immediate reactions to aspartame. But even these individuals are
susceptible to the long-term damage caused by excitatory amino acids,
phenylalanine, methanol, and DKP.

A *few* of the many disorders that are of particular concern to me
include the following.

Birth Defects
————-
Dr. Diana Dow Edwards, a researcher was funded by Monsanto to study
possible birth defects caused by the ingestion of aspartame. After
preliminary data showed damaging information about aspartame, funding
for the study was cut off. A Gentetic Pediatrician at Emory University
has testified that aspartame is causing birth defects. [7]

In the book, “While Waiting: A Prenatal Guidebook” by George R.
Verrilli, M.D. and Anne Marie Mueser, it is stated that aspartame is
suspected of causing brain damage in sensitive individuals. A fetus
may be at risk for these effects…some researchers have suggested
that high doses of aspartame may be associated with problems ranging
from dizziness and subtle brain changes to mental retardation.”

Cancer (Brain Cancer)
———————
In 1981, Satya Dubey, an FDA statistician, stated that the brain
tumor data on aspartame was so “worrisome” that he could not
recommend approval of NutraSweet.[14] In a two-year study conducted by
the manufacturer of aspartame, twelve of the 320 rates fed a normal
diet and aspartame developed brain tumors while none of the control
rats had tumors. Five of the 12 tumors were in rats given a low dose
of aspartame.[15]

The approval of aspartame was a violation of the Delaney Amendment
which was supposed to prevent cancer-causing substances such as
Methanol (formaldehye) and DKP from entering our food supply. The late
Dr. Adrian Gross, an FDA toxicologist, testified before the U.S.
Congress that aspartame was capable of producing brain tumors. This
made it illegal for the FDA to set an allowable daily intake at any
level. He stated in his testimony that Searle’s studies were “to a
large extent unreliable” and that “at least one of those studies has
established beyond any reasonable doubt that aspartame is capable of
inducing brain tumors in experimental animals….” He concluded his
testimony by asking, “What is the reason for the apparent refusal by
the FDA to invoke for this food additive the so-called Delaney
Amendment to the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act? …. And if the FDA itself
elects to violate the law, who is left to protect the health of the
public?”[16]

In the mid-1970s it was discovered that the manufacturer of aspartame
falsified studies in several ways. One of the techniques used was to
cut tumors out of test animals and put them back in the study.
Another technique used to falsify the studies was to list animals
that had actually died as surviving the study. Thus, the data on
brain tumors was likely worse than discussed above. In addition, a
former employee of the manufacturer of aspartame, Raymond Schroeder
told the FDA on July 13, 1977 that the particles of DKP were so large
that the rats could dicriminate between the DKP and their normal
diet.[12]

It is interesting to note that the incidence of brain tumors in
persons over 65 years of age has increase 67% between the years 1973
and 1990. Brain tumors in all age groups has jumped 10%. The
greatest increase has come during the years 1985-1987.[17] In his
book, “Aspartame (NutraSweet). Is it Safe?” Dr. H.J. Roberts gives
evidence that aspartame can cause a particularly dangerous form of
cancer — primary lymphoma of the brain.

Diabetes
——–
The American Diabetes Association (ADA) is actually recommending this
chemical poison to persons with diabetes. According to research
conducted by H.J. Roberts, a diabetes specialist, a member of the ADA,
and an authority on artificial sweetners, aspartame:

1) Leads to the precipitation of clinical diabetes.
2) Causes poorer diabetic control in diebetics on insulin or oral drugs.
3) Leads to the aggravation of diabetic complications such as
retinopathy, cataracts, neuropathy and gastroparesis.
4) Causes convulsions.

In a statement concerning the use of products containing aspartain by
persons with diabetes and hypoglycemia, Dr. Roberts says:

“Unfortunately, many patients in my practice, and others seen in
consultation, developed serious metabolic, neurologic and other
complications that could be specifically attributed to using
aspartame products. This was evidenced by:

“The loss of diabetic control, the intensification of hypoglycemia,
the occurrence of presumed ‘insulin reactions’ (including
convulsions) that proved to be aspartame reactions, and the
precipitation, aggravation or simulation of diabetic complications
(especially impaired vision and neuropathy) while using these
products.”

“Dramatic improvement of such features after avoiding aspartame,
*and* the prompt predictable recurrence of these problems when the
patient resumed aspartame products, knowingly or inadvertently.”

Dr. Roberts goes on to state:

“I regret the failure of other physicians and the American Diabetes
Association (ADA) to sound appropriate warnings to patients and
consumers based on these repeated findings which have been described
in my corporate-neutral studies and publications.”

Dr. Russell L. Blaylock, a professor of Neurosurgery at the Medical
University of Mississippi has stated that excitotoxins such as that
found in aspartame can precipitate diabetes in persons who are
genetically susceptible to the disease.[5]

Emotional Disorders
——————-
A double blind study of the effects of aspartame on persons with mood
disorders was recently conducted by Ralph G. Walton. Since the study
wasn’t funded/controlled by the makers of aspartame, The NutraSweet
Company refused to sell him the aspartame. Dr. Walton was forced to
obtain and certify it from an outside source.

The study showed a large increase in serious symptoms for persons
taking aspartame. Since some of the symptoms were so serious, the
Institutional Review Board had to stop the study. Three of the
participants had said that they had been “poisoned” by aspartame.
Dr. Walton concludes that “individuals with mood disorders are
particularly sensitive to this artificial sweetener; its use in this
population should be discouraged.”[18] Aware that the experiment could
not be repeated because of the danger to the test subjects, Dr.
Walton was recently quoted as saying, “I know it causes seizures.
I’m convinced also that it definitely causes behavioral changes. I’m
very angry that this substance is on the market. I personally
question the reliability and validity of any studies funded by the
NutraSweet Company.”[19]

There are numerous reported cases of low brain serotonin levels,
depression and other emotional disorders that have been linked to
aspartame and often are relieved by stopping the intake of aspartame.
Researchers have pointed out that increasing in phenylalanine levels
in the brain, which can and does occur in persons without PKU, leads
to a decreased level of the neurotransmitter, serotonin, which leads
to a variety of emotional disorders. Dr. William M. Pardridge of
UCLA testified before the U.S. Senate that a youth drinking four
16-ounce bottles of diet soda per day leads to an enormous increase
in the phenylalanine level.

Epilepsy/Seizures
—————–
With the large and growing number of seizures caused by aspartame, it
is sad to see that the Epilepsy Foundation is promoting the “safety”
of aspartame. At Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 80 people
who had suffered seizures after ingesting aspartame were surveyed.
Community Nutrition Institute concluded the following about the
survey: “these 80 cases meet the FDA’s own definition of an imminent
hazard to the public health, which requires the FDA to expeditiously
remove a product from the market.”

Both the Air Force’s magazine “Flying Safety” and the Navy’s
magazine, “Navy Physiology” published articles warning about the
many dangers of aspartame including the cumlative deliterious effects
of methanol and the greater likelihood of birth defects. The
articles note that the ingestion of aspartame can make pilots more
susceptible to seizures and vertigo.[20]

Articles sounding warnings about ingesting aspartame while
flying have also appeared in the National Business Aircraft
Association Digest (NBAA Digest 1993), Aviation Medical
Bulletin (1988), The Aviation Consumer (1988), Canadian
General Aviation News (1990), Pacific Flyer (1988), General
Aviation News (1989), Aviation Safety Digest (1989), and
Plane & Pilot (1990) and a paper warning about aspartame was
presented at the 57th Annual Meeting of the Aerospace
Medical Association (1986).

Recently, a hotline was set up for pilots suffering from acute
reactions to aspartame ingestion. Over 600 pilots have reported
symptoms including some who have reported suffering grand mal
seizures in the cockpit due to aspartame.[21]

One of the original studies on aspartame was performed in 1969 by an
independent scientist, Dr. Harry Waisman. He studied the effects of
aspartame on infant primates. Out of the seven infant monkeys, one
died after 300 days and five others had grand mal seizures. Of
course, these negative findings were not submitted to the FDA during
the approval process.[22]

———————-

The reason many people do not hear about serious reactions to
aspartame is twofold:

1) Lack of awareness by the general population. Aspartame-caused
diseases are not reported in the newspapers like plane crashes.
This is because these incidents occur *one at a time* in thousands
of different locations across the U.S.

2) Most people do not associate their symptoms with the long-term
use of aspartame. For the people who have killed a significant
percentage of the brain cells and thereby caused a chronic illness,
there is no way that they would normally associate such an illness
with aspartame consumption.

How aspartame was approved is a lesson in how chemical and
pharmaceutical companies can manipulate government agencies such as
the FDA, “bribe” organizations such as the American Dietetic
Association, and flood the scientific community with flawed
industry-sponsored studies funded by the makers of aspartame.

Erik Millstone, a researcher at the Science Policy Research Unit
of Sussex University has compiled thousands of pages of evidence,
some of which have been obtained using the freedom of information
act [23], stating:

1. According to Millstone, laboratory tests were faked and dangers
were concealed.
2. Tumors were removed from animals and animals that had died were
“restored to life” in laboratory records.
3. False and misleading statements were made to the FDA
4. The two U.S. Attorneys given the task of bringing fraud charges
against the aspartame manufacturer took positions with the
manufacturer’s law firm, letting the statute of limitations run
out.
5. The Commissioner of the FDA overruled the objections of the FDA’s
own scientific board of inquiry. Shortly after that decision, he
took a position with Burson-Marsteller, the firm in charge of public
relations for G.D. Searle.

In 1980, the FDA formed an independent scientific Public Board of
Inquiry to judge the safety of aspartame as a food additive. The
Board unanimously recommended against approval. The FDA Commissioner
then formed his own scientific team of experts to make a
recommendation. His own team was against aspartame approval by a
three to two margin. He then added a sixth member to his team and
a re-vote was taken in order to make it look like their was a deadlock.
Dr. Jacqueline Verrett, a Toxicologist and a senior member of an
earlier FDA Investigation in G.D. Searle’s aspartame research stated,
“It was pretty obvious that somewhere along the line, the bureau
officials were working up to a whitewash.” In 1987, Dr. Verrett
testified before the U.S. Senate stating that the experiments
conducted by Searle were a “disaster.” She stated that her team was
instructed *not* to comment on or be concerned with the overall
validity of the studies. She stated that questions about birth defects
have not been answered. She continued her testimony by discussing
the fact that DKP has been shown to increase uterine polyps and
change blood cholesterol and that increasing the temperature of
the product leads to an increase in production of DKP.[13]

The FDA and the manufacturers of aspartame have had a rovolving door
of employment for many years. In addition to the FDA Commissioner
and two U.S. Attorneys leaving to take positions with companies
connected with G.D. Searle, four other FDA officials connected with
the approval of aspartame took positions connected with the
NutraSweet industry between 1979 and 1982 including the Deputy FDA
Commissioner, the Special Assistant to the FDA Commissioner, the
Associate Director of the Bureau of Foods and Toxicology and the
Attorney involved with the Public Board of Inquiry.[24] It is important
to realize that this type of revolving-door activity has been going
on for decades. The Townsend Letter for Doctors (11/92) reported
on a study reveiling that 37 of 49 top FDA officials who left the FDA
took positions with companies they had regulated. They also reported
that over 150 FDA officials owned stock in drug companies they were
assigned to manage.

Many organizations and universities receive large sums of money from
companies connected to the NutraSweet Association, a group of
companies promoting the use of aspartame. In January 1993, the
American Dietetic Association received a $75,000 grant from the
NutraSweet Company. The American Dietetic Association has stated
that the NutraSweet Company writes their “Facts” sheets.[25] Many
other “independent” organizations and researchers receive large sums
of money from the manufacturers of aspartame.

A researcher in New England who has pointed out the dangers of
aspartame in the past is now a Monsanto consultant. Another
researcher in the Southeastern U.S. had testified about the dangers
of aspartame on fetuses. An investigative reporter has discovered
that he was told to keep his mouth shut to avoid causing the loss
of a large grant from a diet cola manufacturer in the NutraSweet
Association.

What is the FDA doing to protect the consumer from the dangers of
aspartame?

Less than nothing.

In 1992, the FDA approved aspartame for use in malt beverages,
breakfast cereals, and refrigerated puddings and fillings. In 1993
the FDA approved aspartame for use in hard and soft candies,
non-alcoholic favored beverages, tea beverages, fruit juices and
concentrates, baked goods and baking mixes, and frostings, toppings
and fillings for baked goods.

In 1991, the FDA banned the importation of Stevia. The powder of
the leaf has been used for hundreds of years as an alternative
sweetner. It is used widely in Japan with *no* adverse effects.
Scientists involved in reviewing Stevia have declared it to be safe
for human consumption — something which has been well known in many
parts of the world where it is not banned. Everyone that I have
spoken with in regards to this issue believes that Stevia was banned
to keep the product from taking hold in the U.S. and cutting into
sales of aspartame.[26]

What is the U.S. Congress doing to protect the consumer from the
dangers of aspartame?

Nothing.

What is the U.S. Administration (President) doing to protect the
consumer from the dangers of aspartame?

Nothing.

Aspartame consumption is not only a problem in the U.S. It is being
sold in over 70 countries throughout the world.

———————-

Aspartame can be found in:

- instant breakfasts
- beath mints
- cereals
- sugar-free chewing gum
- cocoa mixes
- coffee beverages
- frozen desserts
- gelatin desserts
- juice beverages
- laxatives
- multivitamins
- milk drinks
- pharmaceuticals and supplements
- shake mixes
- soft drinks
- tabletop sweeteners
- tea beverages
- instant teas and coffees
- topping mixes
- wine coolers
- yogurt

I have been told that aspartame has been found in products where it
is *not* listed on the label. One must be particular careful of
pharmaceuticals and supplements. I have been informed that even
some supplements made by well-known supplement manufacturers such
as Twinlabs contain aspartame.

The information I have related above is just the tip of the iceberg
as far as the damaging information about aspartame. In order to find
out more information, I have included some resources below.

Books
—–
“Excitotoxins: The Taste That Kills”
by Russell L. Blaylock, M.D.
Health Press, Santa Fe, New Mexico, c1994
ISBN 0-929173-14-7
Dr. Blaylock is an Associate Professor of Neurosurgery at the
Medical University of Mississippi. One of the best books
available on excitotoxins. Well worth reading!

“Aspartame (NutraSweet)-Is it Safe?”
by H.J. Roberts, MD
Available from the Aspartame Consumer Safety Network

“The Deadly Deception”
edited by Mary Nash Stoddard
Available from the Aspartame Consumer Safety Network

“Bittersweet Aspartame – A Diet Delusion”
by Barbara Mullarkey
Available from the Aspartame Consumer Safety Network

“The Aspartame Consumer Safety Network Synopsis”
Available from the Aspartame Consumer Safety Network

“Sweet’ner Dearest”
by H.J. Roberts, MD
Available from the Aspartame Consumer Safety Network

“The Bitter Truth About Artificial Sweetners”
by Dennis Remington, MD and Barbara Higa, RD
Available from the Aspartame Consumer Safety Network

Organizations
————-
Aspartame Consumer Safety Network
P.O. Box 780634
Dallas, Texas 75378
(214) 352-4268

——————-

(1) Department of Health and Human Services. “Report on All Adverse
Reactions in the Adverse Reaction Monitoring System.” (February 25
and 28, 1994).

(2) Compiled by researchers, physicians, and artificial sweetner
experts for Mission Possible, a group dedicated to warning
consumers about aspartame.

(3) “Excitotoxins: The Taste That Kills” by Russell L. Blaylock, M.D.

(4) “Safety of Amino Acids” Life Sciences Research Office, FASEB,
FDA Contract No. 223-88-2124, Task Order No. 8

(5) FDA Adverse Reaction Monitoring System.

(6) “Dietary Phenylalanine and Brain Function” Wurtman and Walker
Proceedings of the First International Meeting on Dietary
Phenylalanine and Brain Function., Washington, D.C., May 8 -10,
1987.

(7) Hearing Before the Committee On Labor and Human Resources United
States Senate, First Session on Examing the Health and Safety
Concerns of Nutrasweet (Aspartame). November 3, 1987

(8) Account of John Cook as published in Informed Consent Magazine.
“How Safe Is Your Artificial Sweetner” by Barbara Mullarkey,
September/October 1994.

(9) Woodrow C. Monte, Ph.D., R.D. “Aspartame: Methanol and the
Public Health” Journal of Applied Nutrition, 36(1): 42-53.

(10) U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, No.
84-1153 Community Nutrition Institute and Dr. Woodrow Monte v.
Dr. Mark Novitch, Acting Commissioner, US FDA (9/24/85).

(11) Aspartame Time Line by Barbara Mullarkey as published in
Informed Consent Magazine, May/June 1994.

(12) FDA Searle Investigation Task Force. “Final Report of
Investigation of G.D. Searle Company.” (March 24, 1976)

(13) Testimony of Dr. Jacqueline Verrett, FDA Toxicologist before the
U.S. Senate Committee on Labor and Human Resources. (November 3,
1987)

(14) Internal FDA memorandum.

(15) Analysis prepared by Dr. John Olney as a statement before the
Aspartame Board of Inquire of the FDA. Also “Excitotoxins” by
Russell Blaylock, M.D.

(16) Congressional Record SID835: 131 (August 1, 1985)

(17) National Cancer Institute SEER Program Data.

(18) Walton, Ralph G., Robert Hudak, Ruth Green-Waite “Adverse
Reactions to Aspartame: Double-Blind Challenge in Patients from
a Vulnerable Population” Biological Psychiatry, 1993:34:13-17.

(19) “How Safe Is Your Artificial Sweetner” by Barbara Mullarkey,
September/October 1994 issue of Informed Consent Magazine.

(20) U.S. Air Force. “Aspartame Alert.” Flying Safety 48(5): 20-21
(May 1992).

(21) Reported by the Aspartame Consumer Safety Network.

(22) “Bittersweet Aspartame, A Diet Delusion” by Barbara Mullarkey.

(23) Millstone, Eric “Sweet and Sour.” The Ecologist 25 (March/April
1994).

(24) “The Deadly Deception” Edited by Mary Nash Stoddard. Aspartame
Consumer Safety Network.

(25) ADA Courier, January 1993, Volume 32, Number 1.

(26) “FDA Rejects AHPA Stevia Petition” by Mark Blumenthal
Whole Foods, April 1994.

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