Aspartame

In 1965 a chemist at G.D. Searle & Co. accidently discovered that the chemical compound he was working on to treat gastric ulcers was sweet: aspartame is born. By 1974 the FDA approved aspartame for use in carbonated beverages and dry foods, however by December of 1975 the FDA rescinds their approval after a taskforce discovers that some of Searle’s studies were questionable. Between the years 1976 and 1984 the political and financial circus surrounding aspartame leaves the then drug, now food additive, approved by the FDA and patents by NutraSweet, the commercial brand name for aspartame, are granted and extended.

It is important to note that in 1984 the Center for Disease Control (CDC) published the first list of consumer complaints linked to aspartame use. This leads to the US Committee and Labor and Human Resources hearing: “NutraSweet: Health and Safety Concerns” in 1987. By 1992 the FDA released a list of 92 complaint categories for the over 8000 complained filed against NutraSweet.

In 1992 the G.D. Searle’s patents on aspartame expired; other companies were now legally able to produce aspartame. Public information and the media seem to go silent on this topic until in 1997, Dr. Janet Hull writes a book, "Sweet Poison: How The World's Most Popular Artificial Sweetener Is Killing Us--My Story", the first book documenting the truth and history of aspartame. The silence is broken with alarming new information about aspartame and its side effects; and more studies are coming out every day from Europe, Australia and within the US on the dangers aspartame has on human health.

So what is aspartame? It is an addictive white crystalline powder that affects the brain and body when consumed. It is a neurotoxin believed to kill brain neurons. Infants, children and pregnant woman are at higher risks of adverse side effects because the blood/brain barrier which normally protects the brain is not fully developed until adulthood. Further it is believed by some doctors and researchers, that long-term exposure to excitotoxins may play a part in diseases such as:

• Brain lesions and tumors
• Early onset of Alzheimer’s disease
• Epilepsy
• Hearing Problems
• Lupus
• Memory loss
• Multiple sclerosis
• Parkinson’s disease
• and many more as per Dr. Janet Hull.

Certain conditions have also been linked back to aspartame: autism, ADHD, cognitive learning issues and behavior issues. Additionally moms, aspartame has been linked to damaging the areas of the brain that control our ability to feel satisfied, or full. Some doctors believe that it even damages the endocrine functions of the brain leading ultimately to obesity. So you think you are drinking that diet soda to help with weight loss and really you are adding to the problem. One doctor I read about believes that the 30% increase in obesity in America in the past decade might really be related to the increased use of aspartame.

The FDA says that safe levels of aspartame are up to 40 mg/kg of body weight. So if your child is 60lbs. He or she could “safely” ingest up to 1200mg of aspartame without feeling the side effects of the substance, “they” think. I am not so sure I believe the “safe” levels are safe. You will have to make a judgment call on your own. So where do you find aspartame?

• Chewing Gum
• Diet or low/no calorie soft drinks
• Ready to drink smoothies or dairy beverages
• Frozen desserts, treats and toppings
• Pudding and gelatins
• Yogurts
• Candies
• Chewable Children’s Vitamins
• Processed Babed goods

A simple 12oz can of a popular diet soda has 187mg of aspartame in it; early 1/6th of the amount a child of this size should safely have. The thing about aspartame is that is in so many unsuspecting places, you are not sure how much you are ingesting throughout the day. Many ingredient lists only state that they have aspartame, not how many mg’s per serving. Additionally, many scientists and medical doctors think that the “safe” ADI levels are too high, and damage, especially in children, can occur with lower doses of aspartame. Beware of labels that state “Lite”, “Diet”, “Low-Calorie”, “No calorie.”

The aspartame regulation requires that a statement be placed on the label of all products containing aspartame specifically to alert phenylketonurics of the presence of phenylalanine.

For more information:
Sweet Poison
Center for Science in the Public Interest
Aspartame Consumer Safety Network
Aspartame
FDA
Green Facts
Artificial Sweeteners
Neotame