The Aspartame (NutraSweet®)-Formaldehyde Connection
Did you know that aspartame turns into methanol and formaldehyde when heated? And not just minute, insignificant levels as you might think. According to a 1998 Life Sciences article, scientists concluded that ingesting aspartame (found in diet sodas), extremely high levels of formaldehyde accumulates in the body. Formaldehyde is a substance responsible for chronic deleterious health
The cover-up by Searle Pharmaceuticals and the FDA which lead to acceptable
widespread use of Aspartame is outlined here,( taken from Mary Nash Stoddard’s book,
“The Deadly Deception”)
1969—Dr. Harry Waisman fed Aspartame mixed with milk to monkeys. One died after
300 days of Aspartame and five others had grand mal seizures. Searle deleted this study
when the company submitted safety evidence to the FDA.
1970—The FDA banned cyclamate during the time that the safety of saccharin was
being questioned. The time seemed ripe for Aspartame.
1971—Dr. John Olney, a research psychiatrist, told Searle that aspartic acid caused
“holes in the brains of mice.”
1974—Searle people said these studies raised “no health problems.” Searle told the FDA
about these findings after approval was granted.
1975—Many of the test animals fed Aspartame developed large tumors. These were
not reported to the FDA.
1977—Despite the many complaints about Aspartame, William Conlon and Thomas
Sullivan, two U.S. attorneys, took no action; in five years the statute of limitations for
a grand jury investigation expired. A year later Conlon took a position with the law firm
that represents Searle.
1980—A Public Board of Inquiry of three scientists was activated. These (two M.D.s
and one Ph.D.) voted to ban Aspartame. Because of those negative findings a five member
Commissioner’s Team of Scientists was impaneled: Three voted to ban; two voted it was
safe. Another member was added: Jacqueline Verrett, Ph.D., toxicologist on the team said,
“Bureau officials were working up to a whitewash. Safety questions remain unanswered.”
1981—Dr. Arthur Hull Hayes, Jr. was appointed the new FDA Commissioner and
overruled the Public Board of Inquiry’s recommended ban of Aspartame. He said his
approval was part of the Reagan administration’s new reform.
1983—The National Soft Drink Association wrote to the FDA that Aspartame was
breaking down in warm climates. But the Association later accepted Aspartame. Dr. Hayes
office approved the use of Aspartame in soft drinks just two months before he quit his job as
FDA chief. He then obtained a job with a public relations firm who represents NutraSweet®.
1984—Seven million pounds of NutraSweet® are reportedly consumed by about
100,000 people nationally.
1985—Reports of side effects mount.
Doctor’s Inside Secrets for Natural Cleansing and Detoxification
effects that has also been considered carcinogenic. They calculate that approximately 61.3 mg of formaldehyde is generated from the ingestion of one liter of diet soda. That is more than twice the level necessary to cause irreversible genetic damage in humans.
Worse, it is several times the level shown to cause chronic neurological, musculoskeletal, cardiovascular and other symptoms in long-term formaldehyde exposure research because it
accumulates in the body. The accumulation of formaldehyde was measured in the liver, kidneys,and brain tissues. They concluded that aspartame consumption may slowly but seriously constitute a health hazard because of its contribution to the formation of formaldehyde.36 An independent research scientist (Russell Blaylock, MD) regarding this and other aspartame research wrote: “It was a very interesting paper, that demonstrates that formaldehyde formation from Aspartame ingestion is very common and does indeed accumulate within the cell, reacting with cellular proteins (mostly enzymes) and DNA (both mitochondrial and nuclear). The fact that it accumulates with each dose, indicates grave consequences among those who consum diet drinks and foodstuffs on a daily basis.”
Were you also aware that the American Diabetic Association (ADA) supports the use of
Aspartame (NutraSweet®) as an acceptable replacement for sugar for people with diabetes? This is despite the fact that Aspartame has generated the largest volume of consumer reports (75% of them) describing adverse reactions. According to a 1988 report by the FDA’s Office of Nutrition and Food Sciences, among the products routinely monitored in the Adverse Reaction Monitoring System (ARMS), sulfiting agents and the artificial sweetener Aspartame have generated the largest volume of consumer reports describing adverse reactions.
This means the American Diabetic Association (ADA) is not willing to look at healthier
alternatives to sugar and Aspartame, such as the whole-food sweetener, stevia. The ADA’s official statement reads: “The American Diabetic Association considers Aspartame—as well as the other FDA-approved nonnutritive sweeteners (saccharin, acesulfame K, and sucralose)—acceptable sugar substitutes and a safe part of a diabetic meal plan.”
But worse is the FDA’s support of Aspartame. Aspartame can be found in breath mints,
gum, cereals, frozen desserts, coffee, juice, synthetic vitamins, pharmaceutical drugs, tea,
wine coolers, yogurt supplements, and most predominately, diet soft drinks.
That doesn’t sound so bad until you meet people who have linked their health problems to Aspartame consumption. Aside from all the political and scandalous implications behind the supposed “safety” of Aspartame, it’s equally appalling that Monsanto’s online ad brags that 200 million people are now consuming NutraSweet® in more than 4,000 different products.
source from a health book
