Aspartame Is It Truly Safe
For well over twenty years, Aspartame has been used to sweeten many of the foods that we eat, particularly dietetic foods like soft drinks, yogurt, baked goods, frozen deserts, fruit drinks, and many, many, others. The story of Aspartame is certainly a troubled one. There has always been serious concern in and out of both government and scientific circles has to Aspartames safety.
Aspartame was accidently discovered by in the G.D. Searle Labs back in 1965. Searle;s scientists were looking for a new ulcer drug. They had created a chemical mixture of two amino acids, phenylalanine and aspartic acid. When some of the mixture spilled onto the outside of a flask one of the researchers got some on his fingers. Knowing that the mixture would not be poisonous he tasted it and found it to be very sweet. It wasnt until 1969 that this accidental discovery was reported. And in 1970 an article about this new find was published in Science (Cloninger, 1970)
G. D. Searle began animal studies on Aspartame in 1970. They used a leading expert from the University of Wisconsin, Dr. Waisman.. The study was terminated in 1971 following the unexpected death of Dr. Waisman. However, some results from the study were recorded. Out of seven infant monkeys used in the study one died after being part of the study for just under one year, and five others developed grad mal seizures. These results were kept secret from the FDA, when G.D. Searle submitted its initial applications for product approval. Searle provided the FDA with only with test results that were more favorable. One of the more telling factors was that when questioned by the FDA as to where the autopsy report was, Searle replied that the animals were unavailable for autopsies. Keep in mind that all animal studies are followed by an autopsy to determine just what the effects of the food additive has on the subjects. It is the main reason for using animals in these studies.
Following this initial study, G. D. Searle proceeded with plans to produce and market Aspartame long before FDA would issue its approval for the use of Aspartame for human consumption. Searle quickly built a manufacturing plant in the south and began production of Aspartame. This was undertaken almost five years before Aspartame was finally approved for use in foods. Maybe Searle knew something that nobody else knew. This action of premature production provoked a class action suit by Searle's stockholders. The suit was settled quietly.
In 1973, the head of the FDA's Division of Metabolic and Endocrine Drug Products warned that Searle's findings were not feasible with the data that they submitted. However, in July of 1974 the FDA approved Aspartame for limited use. This included use as a free-flowing sugar substitute; tablets for use in hot beverages, cereals, gum, and dry bases. It was not approved for use in baked goods, cooked products, or carbonated beverages. This approval was given in spite of FDA scientists finding serious deficiencies in all of the 13 tests related to genetic damage which were submitted by Searle.
The FDA voiced serious concern with the way that G.D. Searle tested Aspartame, and in the fashion with which it provided FDA with the test results. In March 1976 an FDA task force reported that ;At the heart of FDA;s regulatory process is its ability to rely upon the integrity of the basic safety data submitted by sponsors of regulated products. Our investigation clearly demonstrates that, in the case of the G.D. Searle Company, we have no basis for such reliance now; Simply stated the FDA was concerned about Searle;s honesty concerning the safety of Aspartame. One FDA task force leader stated that he had never seen anything as bad as G. D. Searle's studies concerning the safety of Aspartame.
After these statements from FDA scientist, one would assume that Aspartame's use for human consumption would be denied, but that did not happen.
As the 1980's approached the political climate in Washington turned strongly pro business. In such a climate and with partial approval already secured from FDA, and in spite of the strong objections of many of its own scientists Aspartame was approved without restrictions. As one FDA scientist said, This was not a scientific decision, but one that was dictated by the political climate in Washington. It is kind of scary that a substance that had so many scientists concerned about its safety along with many independent studies showing significant problems with its use, becoming approved for human consumption. Add to the fact that Aspartame is found today in so many products consumed by children and adults alike it is no wonder that many people continue to study Aspartame's safety and publish those results in independent publications. It is also interesting to note that the vast majority of these independent studies continue to question Aspartame's safety.
One of the major objections toward Aspartame, is that when heated above 89 F it breaks down into wood alcohol. This is quickly converted by the body into formaldehyde. Chronic elevated levels of formaldehyde causes gradual and severe damage to the neurological system and the immune system. These changes can be detected at very low doses. A recent European study demonstrated that ingestion of small amounts of Aspartame leads to the accumulation of significant levels of formaldehyde (bound to protein carriers), in the liver, kidney, and brain tissues.
People consuming products containing Aspartame have reported gastrointestinal problems, migraines, seizures, disorientation, confusion, memory loss, that disappeared after eliminating Aspartame from their diets.
Clearly with its tainted history and recent reported findings, Aspartame is certainly something that should be avoided. If you need to sweeten your food try to use either real sugar, honey or molasses, or something like Stevia, which doesn't have the dangerous side-effects of Aspartame.
Posted
by Dr. Steven Felder
