Aug 13 2008
Anti-Aspartame Campaign Launched in New Zealand
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There have been numerous reports, campaigns and studies done about the health risks of aspartame. You may not even be aware of it, because the campaigns are normally directed at the brand name under which it is sold. Names like Equal & NutraSweet are more likely to catch your attention, as the artificial sweeteners that some like to claim as a healthy alternative to sugar.
Now, Phoenix Organics, a beverage company based in New Zealand, is launching their own campaign to warn people of the dangers caused by aspartame. Their campaign, “Think Before You Drink,” will see 20,000 bottles of their own Phoenix Organic Cola labeled with warnings, pointing to the potential health risks caused by aspartame.
In fact, Phoenix Organics has gone all out in their attempt to make people aware of the dangers of artificial sweeteners. A whole section of their website is dedicated to “information on aspartame“, with links to websites concerning New Zealand itself, such as products in NZ that contain aspartame, and links and references to independent research on aspartame.
“Having read the Bressler Report of the FDA and other reports on the effects of aspartame, we had the living daylights scared out of all of us,” said company directors Stefan Lepionka and Marc Ellis. “We cannot believe that the New Zealand government has declared this safe in the face of such evidence.”
Lepionka and Ellis are referring to the 1977 Food & Drug Administration’s (FDA) Bressler Report, a 76 page report containing the investigation of G. D. Searle’s laboratory in Skokie, Illinois in to aspartame.
Research on Aspartame Dangers
Since the release of the Bressler Report, aspartame has been the focus of several clinical studies, which have revealed possible connections between aspartame and illnesses such as headaches, brain tumors, brain lesions and lymphoma.[1] [2] [3]
Furthermore, back in 1995, FDA Epidemiology Branch Chief Thomas Wilcox concluded that reports showed aspartame to be the cause of 75% of all reports of adverse reactions to substances in the food supply, between 1981 & 1995.[4]
A report by the Department of Health & Human Services in 1993 entitled ‘Adverse Reactions Associated With Aspartame Consumption’ found a total of 92 different symptoms and health conditions reported after consuming this artificial sweetener.[5]
So when Phoenix Organics say that they have “…contacted a number of groups that have been fighting to raise awareness of the health concerns surrounding aspartame…” and pledged that the company “…will do whatever it can to support the overall aim to have the government restrict and ban aspartame,” you tend to believe they’re going out all guns blazing.
My Thoughts on Artificial Sweeteners
It is really sad that the FDA would allow such poisons to be introduced into our food supply. It makes me wonder if it is just another ploy to create more illness and prescribe people more pharmaceuticals. As a matter of fact, aspartame is even contained in some pharmaceutical drugs.
I personally recommend people replace all artificial sweeteners such as aspartame, sucralose and saccharin with all natural sweeteners such as organic agave nectar, organic raw locally harvested honey or zylitol. Please read all labels and steer clear of these harmful substances.
Take care and be well. Dr, G
Related Articles About the Dangers of Aspartame
- List of 57 Clinical Studies Attacking Aspartame
- Dr. Mercola: Articles About the Dangers of Aspartame
August 14th, 2008 at 9:50 pm
formaldehyde, aspartame, and migraines, the first case series, Sharon E
Jacob-Soo, Sarah A Stechschulte, UCSD, Dermatitis 2008 May: Rich Murray
2008.07.18
http://rmforall.blogspot.com/2008_07_01_archive.htm
Friday, July 18, 2008
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1553
Dermatitis. 2008 May-Jun; 19(3): E10-1.
Formaldehyde, aspartame, and migraines: a possible connection.
Jacob SE, Stechschulte S.
Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Surgery, University of Miami, Miami,
FL, USA.
Aspartame is a widely used artificial sweetener that has been linked to pediatric and adolescent migraines.
Upon ingestion, aspartame is broken, converted, and oxidized into formaldehyde in various tissues.
We present the first case series of aspartame-associated migraines related to clinically relevant positive reactions to formaldehyde on patch testing.
PMID: 18627677
formaldehyde from many sources, including aspartame, is major cause of Allergic Contact Dermatitis, SE Jacob, T Steele, G Rodriguez, Skin and Aging
2005 Dec.: Murray 2008.03.27
http://rmforall.blogspot.com/2008_03_01_archive.htm
Thursday, March 27, 2008
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1533
“For example, diet soda and yogurt containing aspartame (Nutrasweet), release formaldehyde in their natural biological degradation.
One of aspartame’s metabolites, aspartic acid methyl ester, is converted to methanol in the body, which is oxidized to formaldehyde in all organs, including the liver and eyes. 22
Patients with a contact dermatitis to formaldehyde have been seen to improve once aspartame is avoided. 22
Notably, the case that Hill and Belsito reported had a 6-month history of eyelid dermatitis that subsided after 1 week of avoiding diet soda. 22″
Avoiding formaldehyde allergic reactions in children, aspartame,
vitamins, shampoo, conditioners, hair gel, baby wipes, Sharon E Jacob, MD,
Tace Steele, U. Miami, Pediatric Annals 2007 Jan.: eyelid contact
dermatitis, AM Hill, DV Belsito, 2003 Nov.: Murray 2008.03.27
http://rmforall.blogspot.com/2008_03_01_archive.htm
Thursday, March 27, 2008
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1532
Sharon E. Jacob, MD, Assistant Professor of Medicine (Dermatology),
University of California, San Diego 200 W. Arbor Drive #8420, San Diego, CA
92103-8420 Tel: 858-552-8585 ×3504 Fax: 305-675-8317 sjacob@contactderm.net;
Dermatitis. 2008 Jan-Feb;19(1):9-15.
Systemic contact dermatitis.
Jacob SE, Zapolanski T. tamar.zapolanski@gmail.com;
Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Surgery, University of Miami, Miami,
FL, USA.
Systemic exposure to allergens resulting in a cutaneous eruption is known as systemic contact dermatitis (SCD).
Once sensitization occurs, varying exposures to antigens via multiple routes (including transepidermal routes, intravenous or intramuscular routes, inhalation, and ingestion) can result in systemic flare.
This article highlights the different categories of common contactants,
metals, medications, and plants, exposure to which leads to SCD.
A comprehensive approach that takes into account all possible routes of exposure is essential in diagnosing SCD and in helping patients successfully avoid their allergens. PMID: 18346390
“We present a case of a medical student who presented with erythematous
eczematoid plaques on her trunk and legs and fine vesiculation of her scalp,
3 weeks after starting anatomy class.
Of note, she routinely washed her face and arms after leaving the anatomy lab, but remained in her scrubs for the rest of the day.
Formaldehyde and Quaternium-15 positive reactions in the same patient. [ photo ]”
“Our patient underscores the importance of appropriate patch testing and education.
Once we identified the allergy to formaldehyde and quaternium-15, we provided patient education materials regarding the common and not-so-common locations of these chemicals and cross-reactors.
We also gave the patient information on avoidance and safe alternatives (see
Table 5).
Fortunately, with technical advances, this student completed the anatomy section via electronic learning tools.
By avoiding formaldehyde, including anatomy lab, FRP in her shampoo and cosmetics, and aspartame in her diet, this patient dramatically improved.
As with all contact dermatitides, the mainstay of treatment for allergic contact dermatitis is avoidance.”
http://www.skinandaging.com/article/5158 Skin & Aging Journal ISSN:
1096-0120 - Volume 13 - Issue 12_2005 - December 2005 - Pages: 22 - 27
Allergen Focus:
Focus on T.R.U.E. Test Allergens #21, 13 and 18: Formaldehyde and
Formaldehyde-Releasing Preservatives — By Sharon E. Jacob, M.D., Tace
Steele, B.A., [now MD] and Georgette Rodriguez, M.D., M.P.H.
[Reply]
August 15th, 2008 at 10:01 am
This is a pretty interesting campaign these guys are doing. I wish more people would do something like this here in the states. Because aspartame is a nasty, nasty additive to many “diet” products. I’d be interested in trying out the aspartame-free soda from Phoenix Organics too.
[Reply]
August 15th, 2008 at 10:02 am
nice post about the dangers of aspartame. more people need to know about the effects of aspartame on their body. Thanks for sharing this with me!
[Reply]
August 16th, 2008 at 7:32 pm
Check out
http://myaspartameexperiment.com
Thanks for letting me post.
[Reply]
September 9th, 2008 at 10:46 am
Aspartame gives me a rash around my mouth and nasal creases. I have proven this by starting and stopping drinking diet sodas containing it about 5 times, and I am convinced the rash is due to it.
[Reply]