FLYING HIGH ON ASPARTAME
Mary Nash Stoddard (Associated Press photo and feature story, showing healthy alternatives to artificial sweeteners)
In '85, Mary Nash Stoddard, internationally acclaimed investigative journalist, was diagnosed with a deadly blood disorder, a leukemia type condition, with (symptoms mimicking Parkinson's and Multiple Sclerosis,) known as Eosinophilia Myalgia Syndrome. This was soon after her husband died at the age, 42 with a brain tumor. Twelve E.M.S. victims died mysteriously that same year. Chronicled in a CDC Report of this new ailment. Her doctor formally diagnosed her as having an adverse reaction to Aspartame sweeteners. Mary wondered if her husband, who had been exposed to aspartame, prior to his death in nineteen eighty-five, contracted his brain tumor because of it. She started researching and learning about the chemical makeup of the molecule, and became a top Medical Expert, so that, since nineteen ninety-two, she is called upon to give evidence in court cases involving artificial sweeteners. Aspartame (aka NutraSweet/Equal/Neotame/AminoSweet), is an Aviation safety-of-flight threat, claims Stoddard in sworn testimony to the U.S. Senate in Washington D.C.! Fourteen years after her research began, she was invited and paid to present her findings to Doctors at one of the most prestigious Medical Schools in the U.S. - University of Texas Southwestern Medical School in Dallas, Texas. She was the first layperson ever to be hired to teach a course on Aspartame Sweeteners.
F16 Air Force Major Michael Collings
Mary was asked to set up a hot line by ace F-16 pilot Air Force Major Michael Collings who had suffered from symptoms of dizziness and tremors. He was asked to fly with the famous Thunderbirds, but rejected the offer 3 times, because flying wingtip to wingtip, he was afraid his symptoms could cause an accident. He didn't want to disclose his problems for fear of losing his license to fly. But in '85, he had a grand mal seizure. He lost his license and his career as a pilot came to an abrupt end. When they met and both testified at the Senate Hearing on Aspartame Safety, in Washington D.C.,November, '87, Collings invited Stoddard to have coffee with him in the Senate cafe, to discuss establishment of an Aspartame reporting mechanism whereby pilots might confidentially report a serious adverse reaction without fear of punitive actions against them.
Pilots need help
He said pilots need to talk, to someone in confidence, who knew about their problems and give them information, in confidence. Apart from the pilots, many wives and families of pilots need help and guidance, to support their loved one experiencing medical issues. Most pilots are reticent to discuss these often life threatening medical problems. Annual medical exams are required for a pilot to retain Medical Certification to fly.
Warning articles
Many articles have been written, and interviews done on camera, about the dangers of aspartame and the susceptibility of pilots to seizures, vertigo and hypoxia. Flying Safety, the Air Force magazine and Navy Physiology, a Navy magazine published such articles. Other warnings were featured about Aspartame dangers in Aviation publications such as, Aviation Medical Bulletin, General Aviation News, Plane and Pilot, Canadian General Aviation News. Aspartame hasn't changed, it's still as toxic as it was then. When compared to cigarettes, undisputedly known to kill humans, one might examine the tactics used by the mighty Tobacco Industry to keep cigarettes on the market. Is the megalithic giant Sweetener Industry using Tobacco Industry's Playbook to keep Aspartame on the market? Some say 'Aspartame is the New Nicotine!' Both contain physically addictive potentially-deadly ingredients.
International Pilot Hotline
The International Pilot Hotline was set up for pilots in '88 by Hon. Mary Nash Stoddard, retired appointed Judge for the State of Texas. Hundreds of pilots and/or their wives and families have reported various incidents, such as grand mal seizures, chronic migraines and other reactions, such as tremors and dizziness, after ingesting both small and large quantities of Aspartame.
Is methanol the problem?
Pilots may be more susceptible to problems in flight because of the ingestion of the methanol and phenylalanine in Aspartame, especially at altitude says pilot, Dr Phil Moskal, Prof of Microbiology, Biochemistry and Pathology. Also pilots do tend to drink plenty of diet soda, coffee with EQUAL, and other sugar free beverages, along with chewing gum to equalize pressure in their heads at altitude. Most gums, sold worldwide, have aspartame in them. Ingestion of aspartame could affect pilots at altitude causing hypoxia (aka the "Bends.")
Pilots are losing their license
If a pilot loses his medical certification to fly because of a medical event, such as a seizure, this license will be nearly impossible to regain. The FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) and NTSB, will not get involved officially, although when Mary and her co-founder of ACSN, James Turner, Esq., met with Deputy Chief Flight Surgeon, Dr. Jon Jordan, about setting up the hotline, he agreed it was an excellent idea, but explained that his hands were tied because FDA (Food and Drug Administration) refuses to re-call Aspartame, despite all the evidence showing Aspartame to clearly be a toxic chemical substance. (FDA rulings supercede all other government agencies.) So, it was up to ACSN to establish the Hotline and start taking hundreds of calls, almost immediately, after she was compelled to fund the endeavor herself, with her limited life savings.
One event, reported by media, and, recorded by passengers' mobile phone cameras, occured in March, 2012. An experienced Captain on a flight from New York to Las Vegas, allegedly had some kind of breakdown. Possessing a previously exemplary record and known to be a much-liked member of the Jet Blue team, this man suddenly had an episode, that was completely out of character. His reputation has now been negatively impacted, despite the explanation of many doctors about what may have actually happened to this unfortunate man. His career as a pilot has been terminated, his character brought into question, he has been ridiculed and his life is in ruins. Sadly, it could simply be all because of his well-investigated consumption of Aspartame.
Side effects of Aspartame
Psychological side effects of Aspartame consumption are reported, by doctors and consumers, to FDA as: suicidal depression, panic attacks, irritability, aggression, anxiety, personality changes, insomnia, phobias. Neurological side effects may include: epileptic seizures, severe headaches/migraines, dizziness, vertigo, tremors, confusion, hallucinations and memory loss. To date, there are ninety-three officially-reported known side effects, associated with use of this artificial sweetener.
CBS News
CBS News interviewed a doctor, a renowned psychiatrist, regarding the event. He described what could possibly have happened to this normally professional, experienced pilot. Dr Jeffrey Lieberman, Chief of Psychiatry, NY-Presbyterian/Columbia explains that Captain Clayton Osbon was likely to be suffering from ingesting a substance that affected his brain. Shown here is a brief clip from the interview by CBS News.
There have been other incidents. Most are never aired by news media. Pilots and flight attendants who suffer a sudden episode, or, chronic adverse reactions, are hesitant to report the facts. They routinely keep quiet but, sometimes report to Stoddard at the pilot hotline.
A must-watch is this excellent Interview with NY Show Host, June Stoyer and Aspartame Pilot Hotline Founder: Hon. Mary Nash Stoddard https://youtu.be/4KN1gUifLTY
(Most of the information used to create this article was taken from the pages of the Original Aspartame Toxicology Sourcebook: "Deadly Deception Story of Aspartame" Odenwald Press 88 - edited by Hon. Mary Nash Stoddard - or, from ACSN websites shown below)
(Email your adverse reactions to: marystod@gmail.com)
