a s pa r ta m e 101
So what is aspartame? Simply put, it’s the excrement of genetically modified E. coli bacteria. It is comprised of 40% aspartic acid, 50% phenylalanine, and 10% methanol. Aspartic acid acts as a neurotransmitter, and too much can actually over-excite the cells, thus stimulating them to death. Keep in mind the blood brain barrier cannot prevent this in many, as it does not fully protect all areas of the brain, especially in people already suffering from other chronic diseases and disorders, and is not fully developed in children. While phenylalanine is an amino acid already present in the brain, excess levels can cause serotonin to decrease over time, which can lead to chemical imbalances that cause depression and other mood and emotional disorders. Methanol, an industrial solvent, is used as fuel and antifreeze, and is a main ingredient in many paints and varnish removers. The EPA warns that methanol ingestion may result in neurological damage (specifically permanent motor dysfunction) and visual disturbances that may lead to blurred or dimmed vision and eventually blindness. In addition, the methanol in diet soda manifests into formaldehyde, a known carcinogen. t h e co n t r ov e r s i a l h i sto ry o f a s pa r ta m e
The fascinating background to the aspartame story began in 1965 when a chemist unintentionally discovered it while he was working on an anti-ulcer drug. “I licked my finger and it tasted good,” he later recalled, according to a Harvard report. And with that, a new, low-calorie sweetener was born. Once aspartame had been more thoroughly tested and successfully repro-
duced, a Skokie, Ill.-based pharmaceutical company by the name of G.D. Searle & Co. resolved to manufacture it. In 1973, Searle filed a food additive petition for aspartame; entering aspartame into the vigorous sugar-substitute competition and beginning a battle that would last for more than 25 years.
rubber stamp approval as a favor to Donald Rumsfeld, a friend and then-CEO of Searle Pharmaceuticals. Of course, Rumsfeld later became the Secretary of Defense in the George W. Bush administration. But for every conspiracy theory and negative story, you’ll also hear just as
Ultimately, if you want to be safe, wait 10 years or so for the final evidence to come out before using aspartame. According to the Harvard report, included in Searle’s petition was extensive data from the research that had been performed on aspartame, all of which purported the safety of the additive. While initial FDA approval came in 1974, the company’s troubles began soon after when the FDA commissioner publicly concluded that the evaluation of the data in the food additive petition for aspartame justified amending the food additive regulations to provide for the same use of aspartame under specified conditions. Many years, task forces, inquiries and studies later, the FDA actually found that aspartame should not be approved for use without additional testing. However, after appeals were filed, the commissioner was charged with reviewing each one. Upon finishing his appeals review, in 1981, he sided with the sweetener manufacturer, citing errors he believed the board made when reviewing the request for approval. This jaw-dropping decision prompted numerous conspiracy theories, including one that President Reagan asked the FDA commissioner to give the sweetener
many that support use of the product. According to the Calorie Control Council, aspartame is one of the most thoroughly studied food ingredients ever, with more than 200 scientific studies supporting its safety. In addition to the FDA, the Joint Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) of the World Health Organization and Food and Agriculture Organization, the Scientific Committee on Food of the European Union (SCF) and regulatory agencies in more than 100 countries have reviewed aspartame and found it to be safe for use, according to the nonprofit, which provides an objective channel of scientific-based communications about low-calorie foods and beverages, to assure that scientific and consumer research and information is made available to all interested parties. making the choice f o r yo u r s e l f
Whether or not you believe aspartame is harmful, the choice is yours. Ultimately, if you want to be safe, wait 10 years or so for the final evidence to come out. Why take unnecessary risks?
The top 6 worst sources of aspartame SUG
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d i e t s o da s
yo g u r ts
chewing gum
co o k i n g sau c e s
sw e e t e n e r s
cereals
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