BIO Mary Nash Stoddard on Twitter

PRESENTING: MARY NASH STODDARD - Co-Founder of the massive international anti-aspartame movement in the mid 1980's, following the brain tumor death of her forty two year old husband, Mike. Ms. Stoddard suffered a life threatening aspartame-related blood disorder in 1985, whereupon, The NutraSweet Co. offered her an all-expense paid vacation for two anywhere in the world, if she would agree to be tested by their doctors. She declined, with the blessing of her doctor, and the rest is history. She has conducted multi-national lecture tours and is a popular visiting professor at colleges, universities and medical schools. "Deadly Deception - Story of Aspartame" is a toxicology sourcebook, edited by Ms. Stoddard, documenting the harmful effects of the world's most toxic artificial sweetener. The companion one hour "Deadly Deception" video is further documentation - taped at a prestigious scientific conference. Stoddard's efforts, over more than two decades, led to the present rejection of the sweetener by many of the food and beverage giants of industry, as they rush to distance themselves from the liabilities associated with use of a neuro-toxic substance in their products. She has testified in court as an Expert Medical Witness and like her counterpart, Erin Brokovitch, helped with a number of lawsuits on behalf of consumers. Her powerful message has reached millions around the world through the airwaves on radio and television, in print and through popular personal appearances. Honors, Awards, Societies: • Expert Medical Witness [1992-present] * Guest Presenter Gulf War Veterans Annual Conference - [Las Vegas 1999] * Visiting Professor: U. T. Southwestern Medical School [1997] * Visiting Professor: American University School of Journalism [1999] * Visiting Professor: University of North Texas at Denton Dept. of Science [1990 and 2005] • Visiting Professor: University of Houston Bioneers Conference [2006] * Invited speaker: Hebrew Univ. Jerusalem - [1997] * Keynote speech: Mexican Government's Annual Conference on Sweeteners [1999] * Appointed Judge - State of Texas [1977-1984] * Broadcast Journalist - [1965-present] * President's Council on Food Safety - [1998-1999] * International Lecture Tours - [1996-present] * Testimony Senate Committee Hearing on Safety of Aspartame - Washington [1987] * Panelist at National News Conference Announcing Dr. John Olney's Brain Tumor/Aspartame Connection - Washington D.C. [1998] * Inducted Member Texas Radio Hall of Fame [2002-present] Representative of the Texas Rice Growers Association [Miss Rice] Board member: Irving Symphony Orchestra Board Member: Irving Community Theater Founding Board Member Radio Station KNON [public radio], Dallas Charter member City of Dallas Citizens Safety Committee Board Member Dallas Mayor’s Fee Task Force Vice President Operation Get Involved, [liaison committee of the D.P.D.] Board member Dallas Homeowners League President Save Open Space Texas Steering Committee Presidential Election Award for Public Service - Mexican Government State of Texas Board of Adjustment

Saturday, November 19, 2011

92 Symptoms FDA

Aspartame Symptoms Submitted to the FDA
The following are symptoms attributed to aspartame in complaints submitted to the FDA by the Department of Health and Human Services April 20, 1995.



How Sweet It Isn't: Cancer Expert Keith Block, MD, Advises Avoiding Artificial Sweetener AspartameBy Leni Kass
Health concerns are mounting about aspartame, the artificial sweetener consumed by more than 350 million people worldwide. Data from a long term, large scale animal study released by scientists from the Ramazzini Foundation for Cancer Research in Bologna, Italy, strongly link the chemical additive to cancer. This research has prompted the European Food Safety Authority to announce the group will review the research "as a matter of high priority, in the context of previous extensive safety data available on aspartame."

In the U.S., the New Mexico Environmental Improvement Board is considering whether it has statutory authority to ban aspartame in the state due to worries the sweetener could be contributing to citizens' health problems. In addition, Christine Lydon, MD, a consultant for several of the world's largest sports nutrition companies who has recommended aspartame-containing products to clients for years, has written an article published in the October edition of Oxygen magazine in which she says a review of the scientific research on the substance has convinced her aspartame is a health hazard. "I sat down with a pile of literature two inches thick. After making it through the first 10 pages, I stormed into my kitchen and fed every item of food containing aspartame to the garbage," she writes in the magazine article. "Since that time, I have not had so much as a stick of aspartame sweetened gum."

First declared safe and approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1981 for use in powdered mixes and tabletop sweeteners, by 1996 aspartame was approved for use in all foods and beverages. However, Ralph Walton, MD, a psychiatry professor at Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine, analyzed the research. He documented that all of the research showing no health risks had aspartame industry-linked sponsorship. On the other hand, 92% of the independent, non-aspartame industry sponsored studies identified one or more problems with aspartame. "That's a glaring disparity," notes Keith I. Block, MD, one of the nation's leading cancer specialists, who is editor-in-chief of the peer-reviewed journal Integrative Cancer Therapies. Dr. Block says he has been troubled for years by the possibility the sugar substitute may, in fact, be anything but a healthy dietary choice. He is particularly concerned about the possibility aspartame might be a carcinogen. The Ramazzini Foundation's study concluded aspartame caused cancer of the kidney and peripheral nerves, mainly in the head. Earlier data from the same study published in July showed aspartame in doses closely equivalent to the acceptable daily intake for women caused an increased risk for leukemia and lymphomas in female lab rats.

In addition to concerns about a possible aspartame/cancer link, Dr. Block, Medical/Scientific Director of the Block Center for Integrative Cancer Care and Optimal Health in Evanston, Illinois, and a Clinical Professor, Department of Medical Education, at the University of Illinois College of Medicine at Chicago (UIC), and at the Department of Pharmacology, and his colleagues believe the sweetener may produce a host of distressing symptoms in some people. "Women in particular have reported neurotoxic reactions to aspartame and we have observed that skin reactions and gastrointestinal symptoms often disappear in patients who stop consuming aspartame-containing products."

Dr. Block also explains that phenylalanine and aspartic acid, the amino acid components of aspartame, are known to stimulate insulin release – which could actually sabotage a dieter's effort to lose weight. " In addition, high insulin levels tend to amplify the adverse effects of some other growth factors that could ultimately fuel the growth and spread of cancers such as colorectal cancer, prostate cancer and breast cancer," he notes. "I think such theoretical links should at least warrant considering cutting back or eliminating aspartame containing foods in the diet."

What sweetener does Dr. Block recommend? "There are a variety of natural grain and plant-derived sweeteners that do not cause a big spike in blood sugar. nd fruit can often satisfy a 'sweet tooth' while providing many health benefits," he answers. "I also recommend eating smaller meals throughout the day, and eating foods that have a low-glycemic index, such as corn, peas, and black beans. The body requires more time to break down and absorb these foods, and this leads to a more gradual and moderate rise in blood glucose levels. Much research suggests that this kind of dietary strategy will result in better health and greater longevity – and it is a far healthier way to eat than relying on artificial sweeteners."
Leni Kass has been in marketing and public relations for over 15 years. Previously, she worked with teens, and facilitated a therapy group for adolescents with eating disorders. She is cofounder and CEO of Hey U.G.L.Y., Inc. NFP, a 501c3 nonprofit organization that empowers teens with self-esteem building tools, to help them counter challenges such as eating disorders, bullying, violence, substance abuse and suicide. U.G.L.Y. is an acronym that stands for meaning Unique Gifted Lovable You.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Leni_Kass
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Symptoms which May be Due to Aspartame What kinds of symptoms may occur as a result of ingesting aspartame? They may involve almost any system of the body. Probably the most common are headaches, including migraines. As I mentioned, one can also experience seizures. Some pilots have lost their licenses after having experienced seizures from aspartame. Several articles have appeared in flying magazines.

Other neurologic or psychiatric symptoms include dizziness, unsteadiness, confusion, severe drowziness and sleepiness, numbness, hyperactivity--especially in children, severe depression, irritability, anxiety, aggression, personality changes, insomnia and phobias.

Visual changes may include blurred vision, blindness, pain and reduced tears. Ringing or buzzing in the ears, hearing impairment or noise intolerance occur in some people. Palpitations, shortness of breath or recent high blood pressure may mimic a heart condition.

Other systems that can be affected are the gastrointestinal system, including diarrhea, nausea and abdominal pain; the skin, including itching and hives; and the endocrine system, including loss of control of diabetes, menstrual changes, marked weight loss or gain and aggravated low blood sugar.

To see if you are being affected by aspartame, eliminate all aspartame products for about two weeks. If some of your symptoms improve, you may then reintroduce aspartame and see if your symptoms return. If they do, you should probably eliminate aspartame entirely. -  Michael Schachter M.D., F.A.C.A.M.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________


Mary Nash Stoddard, Founder
Aspartame Consumer Safety Network and Pilot Hotline
[Promoting FDA Recall of Aspartame - since 1987]
phone: 1-214-387-4001
email: marystod@airmail.net
http://www.aspartamesafety.com

Tuesday, November 15, 2011

National Organic Standards in Jeopardy With New Rules? What Does This Change In Policy Mean To The Consumer?

November 15, 2011
MEMORANDUM FOR THE NATIONAL ORGANIC STANDARDS BOARD (NOSB)
FROM: Miles McEvoy Deputy Administrator
National Organic Program (NOP)
SUBJECT: Request for Clarification of "Other Ingredients" in Processed Organic Products
The Organic Foods Production Act (OFPA) authorizes USDA to establish the National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances. OFPA also grants the National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) the authority to recommend adding materials to or removing materials from the National List. The National List identifies substances that may and may not be used in organic crop and livestock production. In general, synthetic substances are prohibited for use in organic production unless specifically allowed, and non-synthetic (natural) substances are allowed unless specifically prohibited. For handling, the National List includes the non-organic substances that may be used in or on processed organic products. OFPA requires that the National List contain an itemized list of each permitted synthetic substance, including its specific use and application. The NOP recognizes that additional clarity is needed regarding non-agricultural ingredients used in processed organic products and listed under § 205.605.
When used as a formulated product, some substances on the National List may contain additional ingredients in various categories, including, but not limited to, carriers, stabilizers, and preservatives. Such "other ingredients" are sometimes referred to as inert ingredients, excipients, or incidental additives. For organic crop and livestock production, these "other ingredients" are specifically outlined in the regulations. For example, each ingredient in a livestock input material (e.g. medication, pesticide, feed additive) must meet one of the following criteria:
Nonsynthetic (natural) substance which is not prohibited on § 205.604. Allowed synthetic substances which is allowed on § 205.603. Synthetic inert ingredient which is allowed on § 205.603(e), if listed on the
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) List 4-Inerts of Minimal Concern, and used in
combination with allowed pesticide active ingredients. Excipient, only for use in the manufacture of drugs used to treat organic livestock if the
excipient meets one of the following criteria: ­ Identified by the FDA as Generally Regarded as Safe. ­ Approved by the FDA as a food additive. ­ Included in the FDA review and approval of a new animal drug application or
new drug application.
Additionally, all agricultural ingredients listed in the ingredients list for feed additives and supplements must be organic.
1400 Independence Avenue, S.W. Room 2646-South, STOP 0268 Washington, DC 20250-0201
Request for Clarification of "Other Ingredients" in Processed Organic Products Page 2 of 2
For organic crop production, examples of products with multiple ingredients include blended fertilizers, pesticides with inert ingredients, and potting soil with wetting agents. However, each ingredient must meet one of the following criteria:
Nonsynthetic (natural) substance which is not prohibited on § 205.602. Synthetic substance which is allowed on § 205.601. Synthetic inert ingredient which is allowed on § 205.601(m), if listed on the
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) List 4-Inerts of Minimal Concern , and used in combination with allowed pesticide active ingredients. For passive pheromone dispensers, substances on EPA List 3-Inerts of Unknown Toxicity are also allowed.
Currently, the allowance of "other ingredients" in substances on the National List for use in processed organic products is unclear. Several certifying agents and members of the organic trade have asked the NOP to clarify which "other ingredients" are allowed. Since OFPA requires that each non-agricultural ingredient be specifically allowed, and because the National List doesn't specifically list "other ingredients" commonly found in formulated products, the NOP is requesting that the NOSB specify whether these "other ingredients" are allowed.
NOP Request to NOSB
The NOP is requesting that the NOSB develop a policy on "other ingredients" in § 205.605 substances that is comparable to the comprehensive policy for crop and livestock materials. From this point forward, the NOP is requesting that the NOSB consider the presence of any "other ingredients" as part of their review processes. As substances on the National List come up for sunset review, or as new petitions are considered, the NOP requests that NOSB clarify whether any restrictions are warranted for "other ingredients" in § 205.605 substances. Any third-party technical report that the NOP provides will include information on any "other ingredients" commonly found in the substance under review. The NOP is requesting that the NOSB then specify any allowed "other ingredients" in the proposed regulatory text of their recommendation. If the NOSB does not include "other ingredients" in their review and recommendations, then the NOP will conclude that "other ingredients" that are not listed on
§ 205.605 will not be allowed in formulated products.
The NOP recognizes that the NOSB may want to address the subject further in the future with a comprehensive policy for "other ingredients" that may be included in permitted handling materials. Some questions that could be addressed in a future recommendation could include the following:
1. Should all agricultural ingredients that are "other ingredients" be organically produced? 2. Are synthetic preservatives allowed as "other ingredients?"
These steps will allow the NOP to clearly identify which formulated products are allowed under the processing section of the National List. Clear regulations will in turn allow certifying agents and the organic trade to consistently interpret these requirements. The NOP looks forward to working with the NOSB to continue to enhance the integrity of USDA organic products.


http://www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/getfile?dDocName=STELPRDC5095484

Monday, November 14, 2011

ASPARTAME FACT SHEET (Email, Print & Distribute)

Aspartame is the name for an artificial, non-saccharide sweetener. In the European Union, it is known under the E number (additive code) E951. Aspartame is the methyl ester of a phenylalanine/aspartic acid dipeptide. It has been the subject of controversy since its initial approval in 1974.
Marketing
This sweetener is marketed under a number of trademark names, including Equal, NutraSweet, and Canderel, and is an ingredient of approximately 6,000 consumer foods and beverages sold worldwide, including (but not limited to) diet sodas and other soft drinks, instant breakfasts, breath mints, cereals, sugar-free chewing gum, cocoa mixes, frozen desserts, gelatine desserts, juices, laxatives, multivitamins, milk drinks, pharmaceutical drugs and supplements, shake mixes, tabletop sweeteners, teas, instant coffees, topping mixes, wine coolers and yogurt. It is provided as a table condiment in some countries. It is also used in some brands of chewable vitamin supplements, children's vitamins and medications. It is common in sugar-free chewing gum and has now been found in some chewing gum that is not sugar free. However, aspartame is not ever suitable for baking because it always breaks down when heated and loses much of its sweetness. Aspartame is also one of the sugar substitutes used by people with diabetes.

"Aspartame is, by far, the most dangerous substance on the market that is added to foods."--Mary Nash Stoddard/author Deadly Deception Story of Aspartame  <http://www.aspartamesafety.com>
Aspartame is the technical name for the brand names NutraSweet, Equal, Spoonful, and Equal-Measure, etc. It 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 tabletop use, in 1981 and for liquids and carbonated beverages in 1983. It was originally approved for tabletop use 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 U.S. 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 accounts for over 75 percent of the adverse reactions to food additives reported to the FDA by Dallas-based Aspartame Consumer Safety Network. Many of these reactions are very serious including seizures and death. A few of the 92 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: Phenylalanine; Aspartic Acid and Methanol (wood alcohol). In heat and at body temperature, Aspartame breaks down further into these toxic chemicals: Formaldehyde (embalming fluid); Formic Acid (venom in ant/insect stings) and Diketopiperazine (DKP - Brain Tumor Agent).
What Is Aspartame Made Of?
Aspartic Acid (40 percent of Aspartame)
Dr. Russell L. Blaylock, a professor of neurosurgery at the Medical University of Mississippi, published a book thoroughly detailing the damage that is caused by the ingestion of excessive aspartic acid from aspartame. Blaylock makes use of almost 500 scientific references to show how excess free excitatory amino acids such as aspartic acid and glutamic acid (about 99 percent of monosodium glutamate (MSG) is glutamic acid) in our food supply are causing serious chronic neurological disorders and a myriad of other acute symptoms.
How Aspartic Acid (and Glutamic Acid) ( Both are interchangeable in affects on body) Cause Damage
Aspartic Acid and glutamic acids 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. Known as a cumulative effect. The large majority (75 percent or more) 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 to 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
  • 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."

Don't forget: 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: 
  • 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 excitatory amino acid damage. Blaylock is one of many scientists and physicians who are concerned about excitatory 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. 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 brains of mice.) 
Phenylalanine (50 percent 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. There were 20 million unidentified carriers of the PKU gene in the U.S. in 1987.

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, sleep and menstrual disorders. It was shown in human testing that phenylalanine levels of the blood were increased significantly in human subjects who chronically used aspartame.

Even a single use of aspartame raised the blood phenylalanine levels. In sworn 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. 
One account of a case of extremely high phenylalanine levels caused by aspartame was recently published the "Wednesday Journal" in an article titled "An Aspartame Nightmare." John Cook (a Chicago Law Enforcement Officer), began drinking six to eight 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.

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. 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 provide a boost to sales of serotonin reuptake inhibitors such as Prozac and drugs to control schizophrenia, manic depression and seizures. 
Methanol (wood alcohol/toxin) (10 percent of Aspartame molecule) 
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 (beginning in the buccal mucosa glands in the mouth, to go rapidly into the bloodstream, bypassing the normal digestive system filters) and then in the small intestine (for every molecule of Aspartame a molecule of Methanol is released into the system) the methanol from Aspartame encounters 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). Good to remember, body temperature is 98.6 deg. Fahrenheit.

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." They 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.

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 and causes birth defects.

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."

Dr. Monte 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." Shortly thereafter, the Commissioner of the FDA, Arthur Hull Hayes, Jr., approved the use of aspartame in carbonated beverages, he then left for a position with G.D. Searle's public relations firm, Burson Marsteller, for a reported thousand dollars a day consulting fee. Dr. Hays later died of Pancreatic Cancer, one of the identified diseases Aspartame triggered in laboratory testing.

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. The troops of Desert Storm were "treated" to large amounts of aspartame-sweetened beverages, which had been heated to over 86 degrees F in the Saudi Arabian sun. Many of them returned home with numerous disorders similar to that which 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 degree F (30 degree C). 
Diketopiperazine (DKP) 
DKP is a breakdown product of aspartame metabolism. DKP has been implicated in the occurrence of brain tumors. Olney noticed that DKP, when nitrosated in the gut, produced a compound that 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. 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.

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.

Information used in this article was taken from the pages of:

Deadly Deception Story of Aspartame by Mary Nash Stoddard
http://aspartamesafety.com/web/deadly-deception/
Stoddard's POV http://marystod.blogspot.com/
Follow marystod on Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/marystod


Wednesday, November 2, 2011

METHANOL IN OUR FOOD SUPPLY by the world expert: Woodrow C. Monte, Ph.D

LETTER TO EUROPEAN FOOD SAFETY AGENCY Nov. 3, 2011

            My concern about the safety of aspartame centers on its 11% methanol content. My reservation about its safety has only deepened over the twenty five years since my first scientific publication questioning its safety in the Journal of Applied Nutrition (previously sent to Sandra Adedapo).

            Every molecule of aspartame liberates a molecule of methanol on consumption and each molecule of methanol metabolizes into a molecule of formaldehyde within the brain and other vulnerable tissue of the unsuspecting consumer.

            Formaldehyde is now universally classified as a known human carcinogen with no safe level of consumption.  The health threat is magnified when this highly reactive substance is produced within the body from methanol.

            My recent scientific article explains in detail the premise by which methanol may act as a etiologic agent of disease.(586)*  The reference numbering of this version of my article can be used on the reference section of my website, http://www.whilesciencesleeps.com/, to easily retrieve original references where needed for elucidation.

            I am in press of a review of the entire body of methanol literature as pertinent to aspartame poisoning in a book entitled While Science Sleeps. The book will be available soon. I recommend it to your committee as a thorough review of the methanol literature by a food scientist who has never been a consultant to the industry that profits from the sweetener.

            The recent controversial admission by the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency that "methanol is a possible cause of developmental birth defects"(627) and the recent release (this year) of an internal U.S. FDA memo(677) pointing to aspartame as having caused birth defects in laboratory animals are significant evidence to suspect aspartame as the cause of the 25-year-old epidemic of autism, whose point of origin appears to coincide to within one gestational period of the date of aspartame's addition to carbonated beverages.

            I have attached a prepublication copy of Chapter 12 of my book, While Science Sleeps, that deals with autism and aspartame in order to expedite your committee's reevaluation of the safety of this substance.  I ask that any use of the material herein be sourced to my in press book, While Science Sleeps: A Sweetener Kills, by Woodrow C. Monte, Ph.D.  

            If I can do anything further to help in your review, please let me know.  In the recent past, I have registered with Sandra Adedapo of your staff and sent her other information that I hope will be helpful.

 Kindest regards,

Woodrow C. Monte, Ph.D 

Emeritus Professor of Food Science - Arizona State University