Aspartame=Poison for the Masses

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>This too! Phyllis

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>

>Aspartame

>Poison for the Masses

>

>If you or any of your friends are using " diet "

>anything - STOP! READ LABELS on everything you

>eat or drink. If these ingredients are listed -

>they're poison! Irrefutable proof below!

>

>ASPARTAME: POISON FOR THE MASSES!

>

>Extracted from Nexus Magazine, Volume 2, #28

>(Oct-Nov '95) and Volume 3, #1 (Dec '95-Jan

>'96). PO Box 30, Mapleton Qld 4560 Australia. editor@...

>

>Telephone: +61 (0)7 5442 9280; Fax: +61 (0)7 5442 9381

><http://nexusmagazine.com>http://nexusmagazine.com

>

>Aspartame is the technical name for the brand

>names, NutraSweet, Equal, Spoonful, and

>Equal-Measure. Aspartame was discovered by

>accident in 1965, when 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. It was

>originally approved for dry goods on July 26,

>1974, but objections filed by neuroscience

>researcher Dr W. Olney and Consumer

>attorney in August 1974 as well as

>investigations of G.D. Searle's research

>practices caused the US Food and Drug

>Administration (FDA) to put approval of

>aspartame on hold (December 5, 1974). 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 US 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 loss, and 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 fatigue syndrome, parkinson's disease,

>alzheimer's, mental retardation, lymphoma, birth

>defects, fibromyalgia, and diabetes.

>

>Aspartame is made up of three chemicals: Aspartic acid,

>phenylalanine, and methanol.

>

>The book, Prescription for Nutritional Healing,

>by 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)

>

>Dr 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. [Ninety nine percent of monosodium

>glutamate 9MSG) is glutamic acid.

>

>The damage it causes is also documented in

>Blaylock's book.] Blaylock makes use of almost

>500 scientific references to show 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 ASPARTATE (AND GLUTAMATE) CAUSE DAMAGE

>

>Aspartate and glutamate act as neurotransmitters

>in the brain by facilitating the transmission 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:

>

>Multiple sclerosis (MS), ALS, memory loss,

>hormonal problems, hearing loss, epilepsy,

>Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease,

>hypoglycemia, AIDS, dementia, brain lesions, and 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

>mimics 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, and 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. 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 s, Ph.D., an

>experimental psychologist specializing in research design.

>

>Another is Olney, a professor in the department

>of psychiatry, School of Medicine, Washington

>University, 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.)

>

>Also included is Francis J. Waickman, M.D., a

>recipient of the Rinkel and Forman Awards, and

>Board certified in Pediatrics, Allergy, and Immunology.

>

>Other concerned scientists include: R. Hain, M.D., Board

>Certified Forensic Pathologist, and H.J.

>, M.D., FACP, FCCP, Diabetic Specialist,

>and selected by a national medical publication as " The Best Doctor in the US "

>

> s is concerned, also. He compiled a

>list of scientific research sufficient to show

>the dangers of ingesting excess free glutamic and aspartic acid.

>

>And there are many more who can be added to this long list.

>

>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 serotonin 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 US 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 metabolized much more

>efficiently by rodents than by humans.(7)

>

>One account of a case of extremely high

>phenylalanine levels caused by aspartame was

>recently published the " Wednesday Journal " in an

>article entitled " An Aspartame Nightmare. "

>

> 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 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. 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 serotonin

>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 chemotropism.

>

>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 Jell-O).

>

>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 known 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.

>

>Formaldehyde 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

>sulfating 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 , Jr.,

>approved the use of aspartame in carbonated

>beverages, he 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. Other breakdown products of aspartame

>such as DKP (discussed below) may also have been a factor.

>

>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 by-product of aspartame metabolism. DKP

>has been implicated in the occurrence of brain

>tumors. Olney noticed that DKP, when nitro sated

>in the gut, produced a compound which was

>similar to N-nitrosourea, a powerful brain tumor

>causing chemical. Some authors have said that

>DKP is produced after aspartame ingestion. I am not sure if that is correct.

>

>It is definitely true that DKP is formed in

>liquid aspartame- containing products during prolonged storage.

>

>G.D. Searle conducted animal experiments on the

>safety of DKP. The FDA found numerous

>experimental errors occurred, 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.

>

>In an ironic twist, shortly after these

>experimental errors were discovered, the FDA

>used guidelines recommended by G.D. Searle to

>develop the Industry-wide FDA standards for Good Laboratory Practices. (11)

>

>DKP has also been implicated as a cause of

>uterine polyps and changes in blood cholesterol

>by FDA Toxicologist Dr Verrett in her

>testimony before the US Senate.(13)

>

>AILMENTS RESULTING FROM ASPARTAME

>

>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 symptoms 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 Dow , 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

>Genetic Pediatrician at Emory University has

>testified that aspartame is causing birth defects.7360-367.

>

>In the book, While Waiting: A Prenatal Guidebook

>by 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 rats fed a normal

>diet and aspartame developed brain tumors while

>none of the control rats had tumors.

>

>Five of the twelve 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

>(formaldehyde) and DKP from entering our food supply.

>

>The late Dr Gross, an FDA toxicologist,

>testified before the US 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,

> Schroeder told the FDA on July 13, 1977

>that the particles of DKP were so large that the

>rats could discriminate 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?, 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. , a diabetes

>specialist, a member of the ADA, and an

>authority on artificial sweeteners, aspartame:

>

>1) Leads to the precipitation of clinical diabetes.

>

>2) Causes poorer diabetic control in diabetics on insulin or oral drugs.

>

>3) Leads to the aggravation of diabetic

>complications such as retinopathy, cataracts, neuropathy and gastro paresis.

>4) Causes convulsions.

>

>In a statement concerning the use of products

>containing aspartame by persons with diabetes

>and hypoglycemia, says: " Unfortunately,

>many patients in my practice, and others seen in

>consultation, developed serious metabolic,

>neurological 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. "

>

> goes on to say:

>

> " 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. "

>

>Blaylock 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 Dr Ralph G. Walton. Since the study

>wasn't funded/controlled by the makers of

>aspartame, The NutraSweet Company refused to

>sell him the aspartame. 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. 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,

>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 M. Pardridge of UCLA

>testified before the US 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 cumulative deleterious

>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.

>

>Twenty 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

>and Pilot (1990) and a paper warning about

>aspartame was presented at the 57th Annual

>Meeting of the Aerospace Medical Association (Gaffney 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)

>

>Why don't we hear about these things?

>

>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 US.

>

>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 and fraudulent

>industry-sponsored studies funded by the makers of aspartame.

>

> 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, showing:

>

>1. 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 US 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.

>

>A Public Board of Inquiry (PBOI) was conducted

>in 1980. There were three scientists who

>reviewed the objections of Olney and to

>the approval of aspartame. They voted

>unanimously against aspartame's approval. The

>FDA Commissioner, Dr Arthur Hull , Jr. then

>created a 5-person Scientific Commission to review the PBOI findings.

>

>After it became clear that the Commission would

>uphold the PBOI's decision by a vote of 3 to 2,

>another person was added to the Commission,

>creating a deadlocked vote. This allowed the FDA

>Commissioner to break the deadlock and approve

>aspartame for dry goods in 1981. Dr

>Verrett, the Senior Scientist in an FDA Bureau

>of Foods review team created in August 1977 to

>review the Bressler Report (a report that

>detailed G.D. Searle's abuses during the pre-approval testing) said:

>

> " It was pretty obvious that somewhere along the

>line, the bureau officials were working up to a

>whitewash. " In 1987, Verrett testified before

>the US 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)

>

>Revolving doors

>

>The FDA and the manufacturers of aspartame have

>had a revolving door of employment for many

>years. In addition to the FDA Commissioner and

>two US 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 revealing 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 US $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. The American

>Diabetes Association has received a large amount

>of money from NutraSweet, including money to run

>a cooking school in Chicago (presumably to teach

>diabetes how to use NutraSweet in their cooking).

>

>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 US had testified about the dangers

>o 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 sweetener.

>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 US and

>cutting into sales of aspartame. (26)

>

>What is the US Congress doing to protect the

>consumer from the dangers of aspartame?

>

>Nothing.

>

>What is the US Administration (President) doing to protect the

>consumer from the dangers of aspartame?

>

>Nothing.

>

>Aspartame consumption is not only a problem in

>the US. It is being sold in over 70 countries throughout the world.

>

>ASPARTAME CAN BE FOUND IN:

>

>- instant breakfasts

>- breath 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 damaging

>information about aspartame. In order for the

>reader to find out more, I have included some resources below.

>

>BOOKS

>

>Blaylock, L., Excitotoxins: The Taste

>That Kills (Health Press, Santa Fe, New Mexico,

>1994). One of the best books available on excitotoxins. Well worth reading!

>

>H. J. , M.D., Aspartame (NutraSweet), Is

>it Safe? Available from the Aspartame Consumer Safety Network.

>

>Sweet'ner Dearest, Available from the Aspartame Consumer Safety Network

>

> Nash Stoddard, The Deadly Deception,

>Available from the Aspartame Consumer Safety network.

>

>Barbara Mullarkey, Editor, Bittersweet Aspartame - A Diet Delusion,

>

>Available from the Aspartame Consumer Safety Network.

>

>The Aspartame Consumer Safety Network, The

>Aspartame Consumer Safety Network Synopsis.

>

>Dennis Remington, M.D. and Barbara Higa, R.D.,

>The Bitter Truth About Artificial Sweeteners,

>Available from the Aspartame Consumer Safety

>Network ASPARTAME CONSUMER SAFETY NETWORK

>PO Box 780634

>Dallas, Texas 75378, USA.

>Phone: (214) 352-4268

>

>

>

>REFERENCES

>(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 sweetener experts for Mission

>Possible, a group dedicated to warning consumers about aspartame.

>

>(3) Excitotoxins: The Taste That Kills, by 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) Wurtman and , " Dietary Phenylalanine

>and Brain Function, " Proceedings of the

>First International Meeting on Dietary

>Phenylalanine and Brain Function., Washington, D.C., May 8, 1987.

>

>(7) Hearing Before the Committee On Labor and

>Human Resources United States Senate,

>First Session to Examine the Health and Safety

>Concerns of NutraSweet (Aspartame).

>

>(8) Account of Cook as published in

>informed Consent Magazine. " How Safe Is

>Your Artificial Sweetener " 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) US 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 Verrett, FDA

>Toxicologist before the US Senate Committee

>on Labor and Human Resources, (November 3, 1987).

>

>(14) Internal FDA memorandum.

>

>(15) Analysis prepared by Dr Olney as a

>statement before the Aspartame Board of

>Inquire of the FDA. Also Excitotoxins by Blaylock, M.D.

>

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

>

>(17) National Cancer Institute SEER Program Data.

>

>(18) Walton, Ralph G., Hudak, Ruth

>Green-Waite " Adverse Reactions to

>Aspartame: Double-Blind Challenge in Patients

>from a Vulnerable Population, " Biological

>Psychiatry, 1993:34:13-17.

>

>(19) Barbara Mullarkey, " How Safe Is Your

>Artificial Sweetener, " September/October

>1994 issue of Informed Consent Magazine.

>

>(20) US Air Force. " Aspartame Alert. " Flying

>Safety, 48 (5): 20-21 (May 1992).

>

>(21) Reported by the Aspartame Consumer Safety Network.

>

>(22) Barbara Mullarkey, Bittersweet Aspartame, A Diet Delusion.

>

>(23) Millstone, " Sweet and Sour. " The Ecologist, 25 (March/April 1994).

>

>(24) Nash Stoddard, Editor, " The Deadly

>Deception, " 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.

>

>Continue </blockquote></x-html>

[Guest guest]

>This too! Phyllis

><http://befreetech.com/aspartame2.htm>http://befreetech.com/aspartame2.htm

>

>Aspartame

>Poison for the Masses

>

>If you or any of your friends are using " diet "

>anything - STOP! READ LABELS on everything you

>eat or drink. If these ingredients are listed -

>they're poison! Irrefutable proof below!

>

>ASPARTAME: POISON FOR THE MASSES!

>

>Extracted from Nexus Magazine, Volume 2, #28

>(Oct-Nov '95) and Volume 3, #1 (Dec '95-Jan

>'96). PO Box 30, Mapleton Qld 4560 Australia. editor@...

>

>Telephone: +61 (0)7 5442 9280; Fax: +61 (0)7 5442 9381

><http://nexusmagazine.com>http://nexusmagazine.com

>

>Aspartame is the technical name for the brand

>names, NutraSweet, Equal, Spoonful, and

>Equal-Measure. Aspartame was discovered by

>accident in 1965, when 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. It was

>originally approved for dry goods on July 26,

>1974, but objections filed by neuroscience

>researcher Dr W. Olney and Consumer

>attorney in August 1974 as well as

>investigations of G.D. Searle's research

>practices caused the US Food and Drug

>Administration (FDA) to put approval of

>aspartame on hold (December 5, 1974). 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 US 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 loss, and 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 fatigue syndrome, parkinson's disease,

>alzheimer's, mental retardation, lymphoma, birth

>defects, fibromyalgia, and diabetes.

>

>Aspartame is made up of three chemicals: Aspartic acid,

>phenylalanine, and methanol.

>

>The book, Prescription for Nutritional Healing,

>by 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)

>

>Dr 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. [Ninety nine percent of monosodium

>glutamate 9MSG) is glutamic acid.

>

>The damage it causes is also documented in

>Blaylock's book.] Blaylock makes use of almost

>500 scientific references to show 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 ASPARTATE (AND GLUTAMATE) CAUSE DAMAGE

>

>Aspartate and glutamate act as neurotransmitters

>in the brain by facilitating the transmission 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:

>

>Multiple sclerosis (MS), ALS, memory loss,

>hormonal problems, hearing loss, epilepsy,

>Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease,

>hypoglycemia, AIDS, dementia, brain lesions, and 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

>mimics 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, and 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. 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 s, Ph.D., an

>experimental psychologist specializing in research design.

>

>Another is Olney, a professor in the department

>of psychiatry, School of Medicine, Washington

>University, 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.)

>

>Also included is Francis J. Waickman, M.D., a

>recipient of the Rinkel and Forman Awards, and

>Board certified in Pediatrics, Allergy, and Immunology.

>

>Other concerned scientists include: R. Hain, M.D., Board

>Certified Forensic Pathologist, and H.J.

>, M.D., FACP, FCCP, Diabetic Specialist,

>and selected by a national medical publication as " The Best Doctor in the US "

>

> s is concerned, also. He compiled a

>list of scientific research sufficient to show

>the dangers of ingesting excess free glutamic and aspartic acid.

>

>And there are many more who can be added to this long list.

>

>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 serotonin 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 US 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 metabolized much more

>efficiently by rodents than by humans.(7)

>

>One account of a case of extremely high

>phenylalanine levels caused by aspartame was

>recently published the " Wednesday Journal " in an

>article entitled " An Aspartame Nightmare. "

>

> 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 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. 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 serotonin

>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 chemotropism.

>

>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 Jell-O).

>

>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 known 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.

>

>Formaldehyde 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

>sulfating 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 , Jr.,

>approved the use of aspartame in carbonated

>beverages, he 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. Other breakdown products of aspartame

>such as DKP (discussed below) may also have been a factor.

>

>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 by-product of aspartame metabolism. DKP

>has been implicated in the occurrence of brain

>tumors. Olney noticed that DKP, when nitro sated

>in the gut, produced a compound which was

>similar to N-nitrosourea, a powerful brain tumor

>causing chemical. Some authors have said that

>DKP is produced after aspartame ingestion. I am not sure if that is correct.

>

>It is definitely true that DKP is formed in

>liquid aspartame- containing products during prolonged storage.

>

>G.D. Searle conducted animal experiments on the

>safety of DKP. The FDA found numerous

>experimental errors occurred, 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.

>

>In an ironic twist, shortly after these

>experimental errors were discovered, the FDA

>used guidelines recommended by G.D. Searle to

>develop the Industry-wide FDA standards for Good Laboratory Practices. (11)

>

>DKP has also been implicated as a cause of

>uterine polyps and changes in blood cholesterol

>by FDA Toxicologist Dr Verrett in her

>testimony before the US Senate.(13)

>

>AILMENTS RESULTING FROM ASPARTAME

>

>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 symptoms 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 Dow , 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

>Genetic Pediatrician at Emory University has

>testified that aspartame is causing birth defects.7360-367.

>

>In the book, While Waiting: A Prenatal Guidebook

>by 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 rats fed a normal

>diet and aspartame developed brain tumors while

>none of the control rats had tumors.

>

>Five of the twelve 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

>(formaldehyde) and DKP from entering our food supply.

>

>The late Dr Gross, an FDA toxicologist,

>testified before the US 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,

> Schroeder told the FDA on July 13, 1977

>that the particles of DKP were so large that the

>rats could discriminate 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?, 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. , a diabetes

>specialist, a member of the ADA, and an

>authority on artificial sweeteners, aspartame:

>

>1) Leads to the precipitation of clinical diabetes.

>

>2) Causes poorer diabetic control in diabetics on insulin or oral drugs.

>

>3) Leads to the aggravation of diabetic

>complications such as retinopathy, cataracts, neuropathy and gastro paresis.

>4) Causes convulsions.

>

>In a statement concerning the use of products

>containing aspartame by persons with diabetes

>and hypoglycemia, says: " Unfortunately,

>many patients in my practice, and others seen in

>consultation, developed serious metabolic,

>neurological 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. "

>

> goes on to say:

>

> " 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. "

>

>Blaylock 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 Dr Ralph G. Walton. Since the study

>wasn't funded/controlled by the makers of

>aspartame, The NutraSweet Company refused to

>sell him the aspartame. 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. 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,

>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 M. Pardridge of UCLA

>testified before the US 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 cumulative deleterious

>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.

>

>Twenty 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

>and Pilot (1990) and a paper warning about

>aspartame was presented at the 57th Annual

>Meeting of the Aerospace Medical Association (Gaffney 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)

>

>Why don't we hear about these things?

>

>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 US.

>

>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 and fraudulent

>industry-sponsored studies funded by the makers of aspartame.

>

> 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, showing:

>

>1. 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 US 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.

>

>A Public Board of Inquiry (PBOI) was conducted

>in 1980. There were three scientists who

>reviewed the objections of Olney and to

>the approval of aspartame. They voted

>unanimously against aspartame's approval. The

>FDA Commissioner, Dr Arthur Hull , Jr. then

>created a 5-person Scientific Commission to review the PBOI findings.

>

>After it became clear that the Commission would

>uphold the PBOI's decision by a vote of 3 to 2,

>another person was added to the Commission,

>creating a deadlocked vote. This allowed the FDA

>Commissioner to break the deadlock and approve

>aspartame for dry goods in 1981. Dr

>Verrett, the Senior Scientist in an FDA Bureau

>of Foods review team created in August 1977 to

>review the Bressler Report (a report that

>detailed G.D. Searle's abuses during the pre-approval testing) said:

>

> " It was pretty obvious that somewhere along the

>line, the bureau officials were working up to a

>whitewash. " In 1987, Verrett testified before

>the US 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)

>

>Revolving doors

>

>The FDA and the manufacturers of aspartame have

>had a revolving door of employment for many

>years. In addition to the FDA Commissioner and

>two US 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 revealing 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 US $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. The American

>Diabetes Association has received a large amount

>of money from NutraSweet, including money to run

>a cooking school in Chicago (presumably to teach

>diabetes how to use NutraSweet in their cooking).

>

>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 US had testified about the dangers

>o 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 sweetener.

>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 US and

>cutting into sales of aspartame. (26)

>

>What is the US Congress doing to protect the

>consumer from the dangers of aspartame?

>

>Nothing.

>

>What is the US Administration (President) doing to protect the

>consumer from the dangers of aspartame?

>

>Nothing.

>

>Aspartame consumption is not only a problem in

>the US. It is being sold in over 70 countries throughout the world.

>

>ASPARTAME CAN BE FOUND IN:

>

>- instant breakfasts

>- breath 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 damaging

>information about aspartame. In order for the

>reader to find out more, I have included some resources below.

>

>BOOKS

>

>Blaylock, L., Excitotoxins: The Taste

>That Kills (Health Press, Santa Fe, New Mexico,

>1994). One of the best books available on excitotoxins. Well worth reading!

>

>H. J. , M.D., Aspartame (NutraSweet), Is

>it Safe? Available from the Aspartame Consumer Safety Network.

>

>Sweet'ner Dearest, Available from the Aspartame Consumer Safety Network

>

> Nash Stoddard, The Deadly Deception,

>Available from the Aspartame Consumer Safety network.

>

>Barbara Mullarkey, Editor, Bittersweet Aspartame - A Diet Delusion,

>

>Available from the Aspartame Consumer Safety Network.

>

>The Aspartame Consumer Safety Network, The

>Aspartame Consumer Safety Network Synopsis.

>

>Dennis Remington, M.D. and Barbara Higa, R.D.,

>The Bitter Truth About Artificial Sweeteners,

>Available from the Aspartame Consumer Safety

>Network ASPARTAME CONSUMER SAFETY NETWORK

>PO Box 780634

>Dallas, Texas 75378, USA.

>Phone: (214) 352-4268

>

>

>

>REFERENCES

>(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 sweetener experts for Mission

>Possible, a group dedicated to warning consumers about aspartame.

>

>(3) Excitotoxins: The Taste That Kills, by 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) Wurtman and , " Dietary Phenylalanine

>and Brain Function, " Proceedings of the

>First International Meeting on Dietary

>Phenylalanine and Brain Function., Washington, D.C., May 8, 1987.

>

>(7) Hearing Before the Committee On Labor and

>Human Resources United States Senate,

>First Session to Examine the Health and Safety

>Concerns of NutraSweet (Aspartame).

>

>(8) Account of Cook as published in

>informed Consent Magazine. " How Safe Is

>Your Artificial Sweetener " 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) US 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 Verrett, FDA

>Toxicologist before the US Senate Committee

>on Labor and Human Resources, (November 3, 1987).

>

>(14) Internal FDA memorandum.

>

>(15) Analysis prepared by Dr Olney as a

>statement before the Aspartame Board of

>Inquire of the FDA. Also Excitotoxins by Blaylock, M.D.

>

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

>

>(17) National Cancer Institute SEER Program Data.

>

>(18) Walton, Ralph G., Hudak, Ruth

>Green-Waite " Adverse Reactions to

>Aspartame: Double-Blind Challenge in Patients

>from a Vulnerable Population, " Biological

>Psychiatry, 1993:34:13-17.

>

>(19) Barbara Mullarkey, " How Safe Is Your

>Artificial Sweetener, " September/October

>1994 issue of Informed Consent Magazine.

>

>(20) US Air Force. " Aspartame Alert. " Flying

>Safety, 48 (5): 20-21 (May 1992).

>

>(21) Reported by the Aspartame Consumer Safety Network.

>

>(22) Barbara Mullarkey, Bittersweet Aspartame, A Diet Delusion.

>

>(23) Millstone, " Sweet and Sour. " The Ecologist, 25 (March/April 1994).

>

>(24) Nash Stoddard, Editor, " The Deadly

>Deception, " 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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