The "Pandora's box of chameleon-like toxins and tumor agents"

   Aspartame was never and cannot be proven to be safe.  It is not and
cannot be a diet aid because the formaldehyde (from the breakdown of the
10% methanol) gets stored in the fat along with some water. The National
Soft Drink Association developed a 30-page protest (in the '80s) that
mentioned the fact that aspartame in a beverage was unstable, and that
it reduced the levels of serotonin (a substance that gives one that
"full" feeling), which can induce a craving for carbohydrates.

L-Aspartyl-l-phenylalanine methyl ester, 98%, aspartame CAS #22839-47-0
(a.k.a. Equal, NutraSweet, Spoonful, Benevia, Equal Measure, etc.) is
composed of (at least) three things:

  1.) aspartic acid, (around 40%)     CAS # 56-84-8
  2.) phenylalanine, (around 50%)     CAS # 63-91-2
  3.) methanol (wood alcohol) (10%)   CAS # 67-56-1

  Aspartame is listed with a formula of: C14H18N2O5 and if any interested
  party has the "CHIME" 3D molecule viewer the aspartame MDL can be viewed
  at:

     http://www.sci.ouc.bc.ca/chem/molecule/pdb/aspartam.pdb

    In addition, DORway has a "CHIME" page with lots of good information
at:

     http://www.dorway.com/chime.html

   (NOTE: For those who use Netscape Navigator 3.1 or better, and who
would like to view molecules in 3D and "stereo", in several formats,
with the ability to rotate them to any angle... get and install the
plug-in from:

     http://www.mdli.com/chemscape/chime/chime.html

----
          (two dimensional representation)

                  O                O
                  ||               ||
     NH3 -- CH -- C -- NH -- CH -- C -- OCH3
            |                |
            CH2              CH2
            |                |
            C=O              C
            |              // \
            O            HC    CH
                         |     |
                         HC    CH
                           \\ /
                             C
                             H

The phenylalanine breaks down into diketopiperazine (DKP), a known tumor
agent, and it is the reason for the FDA mandated "PHENYLKETONURICS:
Contains phenylalanine" (PKU) warning label.  Diketopiperazine was the
major impediment to approval noted in the Searle "Helling" memo
(http://www.dorway.com/secrets.html).

The methanol (with no natural antidote of Ethanol) breaks down in-
solution (diet coke, whatever) into formaldehyde.  The human liver also
breaks down "free" methanol from any solution into formaldehyde.  The
body has difficulty eliminating formaldehyde so it combines some of it
with water and stores it in the fat.  What is not stored in the fat is
further converted to formic acid (same thing as ant sting poison).

   So, with each sip EVERY user gets a micro-dose of three poisons, two
of which (formaldehyde and formic acid) are known carcinogens... along
with that side-order of DKP, the tumor agent.  A science report was done
on diet cokes. The contents of the unopened cans was later evaluated by
a reputable food testing laboratory that proved the methanol =>
formaldehyde conversion, even in the unopened container cooling off in
the refrigerator, and the phenylalanine to DKP conversion.

     (See (http://www.dorway.com/jcohen.html)  The damage/
problems caused by the use of aspartame are noted in the FDA's
own compiled list of 92 symptoms of aspartame poisoning
http://www.dorway.com/badnews.html (includes comments on how
it happens).

   A fairly complete list of aspartame breakdown components from the
aspartic acid, phenylalanine, and methanol is as follows:

Formaldehyde (embalming fluid)  CAS # 50-00-0 CH2O
Formic Acid  (ant poison)       CAS # 64-18-6 CH2O2
Beta Aspartame              **
Aspartylphenylalanine       **
Aspartylphenylalanine amide **
Tyrosine                    CAS # 60-18-4 C9H11NO3
L-Dopa                      **
Dopamine                    **
Norepinephrine              **
Epinephrine                 **
Phenylethylamine            CAS # 64-04-0
Phenylpyruvate              **
Phenylactic acid            **
Phenylacetic acid           CAS # 103-82-2
Diketopiperazine (DKP)      CAS # 106-57-0

   ** (No page for item at: http://webbook.nist.gov/)
   cas = Chemical Abstracts Service, registry number
   More information available at: http://chemfinder.camsoft.com/


   Most of these 91 symptoms are noted on the

   http://www.dorway.com/badnews.html

   These symptoms were derived from what the FDA notes is the most
complained about substance in their history, at one time comprising
around 85% of all complaints.  The total number of complaints that they
admit to is over 10,000 (which is too low, for a number of reasons) and
the FDA also suggests that fewer than 1% of the population actually
reports a problem. This balloons the over 10,000 actual complaints to
over ONE MILLION victims who should have complained!  Please note that
either of those numbers are significant, especially for a "safe" food
additive.

   The proponents of aspartame safety admit to the 10% methanol content.
But then they state that fruit has more methanol.  This is probably
true, but where they deviate from the truth is that mother nature was
kind enough to include an abundance of ETHANOL, the natural antidote to
methanol poisoning, that minimizes any harm to the person eating the
fruit.  They omit telling the public that aspartame has NO ethanol
content, which is why it is highly unstable and readily breaks down into
formaldehyde (in the original unopened container).  Products with
aspartame in solution have an approximate 270 day shelf life IF stored
below 86 degrees F.

   They also have a habit of stating that "aspartame cannot... bla bla".
Perhaps not, but most likely one or more of the above noted
breakdown/conversion products does cause that kind of damage or
symptoms.

   Another standard statement is that the amino acids in aspartame are
"natural".  In truth, they are natural only IN COMBINATION with other
amino acids... not isolated as they are in aspartame.  Perhaps the
analogy between fruit and the balance between methanol and ethanol is a
good example of what happens when only some of the naturally occurring
amino acids are used instead of the entire complex chain of amino acids.
It becomes an unnatural foodstuff, that most likely causes unnatural
things to happen to whatever creature ingests it.

   Dr. Moser, the Nutrasweet spokesman, overstepped the boundary of
truth on National TV when he stated that aspartame could not get into
the blood and cause seizures.  The RAO report, one of 15 (of seventy)
G.D. Searle funded tests, was called "pivotal" proof of the safety of
aspartame by the FDA.  The  RAO report only proved that six of the seven
monkeys fed aspartame-laced milk for a year developed seizures after
every feeding, and the seventh one died (but all data on why was
"lost").  Dr. Moser privately admitted to Jennifer Cohen (author of the
diet coke report):

"..the study should never have been undertaken, much less submitted as
legitimate observation.  This particular (RAO) experiment represents an
unpardonable breach in methodology." (H. Moser)

   This was one of the FDA's shining examples of proof of safety?  It is
a completely false interpretation!  What, then, might the results of the
other 69 tests reveal?  Perhaps a review of FDA toxicologist Dr. Gross's
notarized statements to Senator Metzenbaum concerning brain tumors
(http://www.dorway.com/gross.txt) or FDA's Dr. Jerome Bressler's 76 page
report of only ONE Searle test, which verifies the brain tumor aspect
and adds mammary, ovarian and uterine tumors to the list, along with
perhaps shrunken testes (http://www.dorway.com/bressler.txt) provides a
solid clue.

   If the foregoing is not enough to prove the case against aspartame
then perhaps there is something else on the 450 page "DORway to
Discovery!" WEB site (http://www.dorway.com).  This is an aspartame
information site that prints out to over 3000 pages collected and posted
by a very unhappy victim of long-term aspartame poisoning.

   Perhaps the phrase that best applies is that "ASPARTAME is a
Pandora's box of chameleon-like toxins and tumor agents that have 92 FDA
acknowledged ways to ruin your life, death being one of them".

  Just bear in mind that damage is caused by all aspartame consumption
and it is CUMULATIVE... the damage adds up with each dose.  In addition,
the FDA mandated warning label "PHENYLKETONURICS: Contains
phenylalanine" is often well hidden, and in some cases illegally omitted
(with impunity).

   Once a victim affirms that aspartame has been a significant factor in
their health problems they should collect all aspartame-laced products
and return them to the point of sale for a FULL REFUND.  Even, and
especially so, if the product has been opened and partly consumed.  They
are asked to consider making a big stink if the store REFUSES to give a
full refund... such that nearby customers become aware of WHY the
customer is unhappy and wants a full refund!

  Then, they need to pass this health-saving (and money-saving)
information around to friends, family, co-workers, doctors, clinics,
hospitals, church, PTA, schools, clubs, local governments, supermarkets
and grocery stores, health-food stores, and anyone else you can think of
who might benefit from the information.  Unless a person is very lucky
(or connected) the media and higher "officials" are usually of NO help
for one of two reasons... they either have a vested interest in
aspartame remaining on the market (such as advertising or donations), or
they are too afraid of being sued.

   The efforts of unhappy victims in helping to spread the truth about
aspartame has been a significant factor in aspartame losing 17% of its
(Monsanto reported) 1996 billion dollars in sales during 1997 (instead
of continued growth).  However, the majority of over 200 million
clueless victims, in over 100 countries, who are consuming over 5000
aspartame-laced products (many of which are not labeled properly) STILL
NEED TO KNOW.

----- "Standard info Email" .. send Email to .. help@dorway.org