The Lowdown on Sweet? A Study Rekindles the Debate on Aspartame

[BrklynLiberal]

In the interest of being an informed consumer, at least peruse this article.

February 12, 2006
The Lowdown on Sweet?
By MELANIE WARNER
WHEN Dr. Morando Soffritti, a cancer researcher in Bologna, Italy, saw the results of his team's seven-year study on aspartame, he knew he was about to be injected into a bitter controversy over this sweetener, one of the most contentiously debated substances ever added to foods and beverages.

Aspartame is sold under the brand names Nutra-Sweet and Equal and is found in such popular products as Diet Coke, Diet Pepsi, Diet Snapple and Sugar Free Kool-Aid. Hundreds of millions of people consume it worldwide. And Dr. Soffritti's study concluded that aspartame may cause the dreaded "c" word: cancer.

<snip>

Others have also challenged Searle's studies. Documents from the F.D.A. and records from the Federal Register indicate that, in the years before the F.D.A. approved aspartame, the agency had serious concerns about the accuracy and credibility of Searle's aspartame studies. From 1977 to 1985 — during much of the approval process — Searle was headed by Donald H. Rumsfeld, who is now the secretary of defense; Searle was acquired by Monsanto in 1985. Monsanto later spun Searle's assets out into two companies: Merisant, which owns the brands Equal and Canderel, and NutraSweet, which is owned by J. W. Childs Equity Partners, an investment firm in Boston.

<snip>

Dr. Walton, who, like some other psychiatrists, has studied aspartame from a neurological perspective, said he had also seen problems from the sweetener firsthand. At Safe Harbor Behavioral Health, a mental health facility in Erie, Pa., where he is clinical director, Dr. Walton said he had observed that for many people with mood disorders, such as depression or bipolar disorder, aspartame exacerbates the condition. "For people with panic disorders, for instance, we've seen that when we eliminate aspartame, it's much easier to control their illness," he said. "The number of panic attacks goes down."

<snip>

much much more.............

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/02/12/business/yourmoney/12sweet.html?_r=1&oref=slogin
One point of information:

The "Calorie Control Council" mentioned in the article is an organization of Corporations interested in selling you sugar substitutes and fat replacers, not nutritionally sound foods. They include Archer Daniels Midland, Isolmalt, Roquette, Abbott Labs, Cargill Corn Milling, Nutrinova, Proctor and Gamble, Purac Biochem.

For a list of the companies involved in "The Calorie Control Council" check out http://www.caloriecontrol.org/candp.html

[ikojo]

1. I get really bad headaches when I drink anything

with Aspartame, so I avoid it.

[kurth]

2. One more reason to stay away from artificial crap

Makes ya wonder what research will say about Splenda ten years from now...

[Teaser]

4. I believe sucralose (splenda)

is probably a lot safer than aspartame. Aspartame is a stripped down neurotransmitter, so I'm not surprised it has multiple systemic effects.
I havent seen any convincing evidence of the same for sucralose.

[phoebe]

10. go with stevia - it's an herb

n/t

[pitohui]

13. a foul tasting herb

altho not as foul as ephedra

:-)

[Gormy Cuss]

3. Good article.

Although there are valid criticisms levied against the Ramazzini study the article discusses the possible limitations to the Searle studies as well. It also mentions that the quick adoption of Splenda (sucralose) is in part because companies see a rising liability in aspartame.

I hadn't heard of the panic disorder association but I know several people who had significant side effects from consuming products containing aspartame although most people seem to tolerate it just fine.

I think I'll go dump those aspartame sweetened diet drinks and start drinking those high-fructose corn syrup versions.
:sarcasm:

[mcscajun]

5. Boylan Sugar Cane Cola

http://www.sodapopstop.com/products/detail.cfm?link=485

Soda Pop Stop has other real sugar soft drinks as well. :)

[Gormy Cuss]

6. Thanks for the link.

I don't drink much soda but it's nice to know that someone is still making cream soda with real sugar!
:bounce:

[BrklynLiberal]

15. Great link. Thanks.

[drm604]

7. Aspartame bothers me.

It stimulates my bowel, to put it nicely. My Gastroenterologist says that he's heard the same complaint from others. That's not scientific, of course.

I've been using Splenda. When I first started using it I swore it tasted exactly like sugar in everything I used it for. Lately I've noticed that that doesn't seem to be the case anymore in some things, tea for example. Has anyone else noticed a change?

[pitohui]

12. no most people never find splenda as sweet as sugar

it is made from real sugar cane, my husband has been in a plant where sugar and splenda are processed, but his experience was the reverse of yours, he could not taste it as sweet at first although he can now taste it after eliminating all sugar products


try cutting out all foods containing any real sugar, corn syrup, etc. and splenda will taste sweeter to you, seems to work for us

[robbibaba]

8. I remember reading an expose on aspartame

that linked its use to ms symptoms. It seems to destroy the nervous system for some folks.
I've been wondering about all this high fructose corn sweetner we merkuns are swilling. Is it made from gmo corn? It sure is making us fat.

[SmokingJacket]

9. I think it tastes terrible, to boot.

Not quite as bad as saccharine, but still bad.

And corn syrup is no good either.

Think I'll stick to water, unsweetened coffee and tea, and red wine (of course).

[bloom]

11. I've never drunk it much myself

but I know a lot of people who do.

Things like this - where consumers are not being adequately informed - really piss me off. :grr:

[BrklynLiberal]

14. kick