United Kingdom Leads the way!

http://www.lineone.net/express/00/01/09/news/n0120war-d.html

Bitter war of words over the safety of $1 billion sweetener
By Lucy Johnston

THE GIANT corporation vigorously defends its billion dollar chemical.
The mere suggestion of "health risks" can prompt threatening letters
from its lawyers.

The company is Monsanto, the American multi-national. It is protecting
the reputation of aspartame - a confected chemical compound which has
one extraordinary property: it is very sweet.

Aspartame is the artificial sweetener which has revolutionised the low-
calorie food and drink industry in the Western world. Most people would
know it under brand names such as NutraSweet and Canderel. Unlike sugar,
it isn't fattening and doesn't have the unpleasant aftertaste of its
once-dominant competitor, saccharine.

The Monsanto lawyers take an unequivocal stance. Twice they have written
letters headed "Not for Publication" to the Sunday Express, stressing
that aspartame is the most thoroughly-tested ingredient in our food
supply. Those tests, their clients state, prove it is safe.

However, scientists, doctors, psychiatrists, campaigners and MPs believe
there are safety questions. They believe such a debate should not be
silenced by lawyers protecting lucrative commercial interests.

In Britain we consume 10 billion cans of fizzy drink a year and a little
under half of them are artificially sweetened. We take aspartame in
jelly, chewing gum, yogurts, desserts, sweets, beer, spring water and
vitamins. Monsanto points to 200 "objective" scientific studies which
document the safety of its product. All other studies, it says, have
been discredited. Many reports indicating aspartame is safe are financed
by the food industry.

However, a scientific review of all the evidence available in 1996 found
92 per cent of the independent - non-industry-funded - medical data
relating to health risks of aspartame identified safety concerns. These
include fears that aspartame may be linked to illnesses such as brain
tumours, blindness and seizures.

Professor Ralph Walton, chairman of the psychiatry department at
Northwestern Ohio Universities College of Medicine, said: "I dispute
Monsanto's assertion that there are no health risks. I believe aspartame
increases risk of cancer. Virtually all the studies attesting to its
safety have been funded by the industry."

America's influential Food and Drug Administration and Britain's food
safety watchdogs have always given the sweetener a clean bill of health
-but that may not be the end of the story.

The discovery of aspartame, in 1969, was accidental. While testing a new
chemical as a possible anti-ulcer drug, chemist James Schlatter
inadvertently smeared his hand with liquid from a flask. He licked his
thumb clean and was surprised by how sweet it tasted. The compound was
200 times sweeter than sugar.

Aspartame seemed wonderful. It contained virtually no calories and
tasted more like sugar than other sweeteners: ideal for the growing diet
market. Sales under the brand name NutraSweet became worth more than
£625million a year.

It had taken 16 years from Schlatter's discovery for his company, US
drug giant Searle, to win FDA approval for the sweetener. Searle's
safety research was one of the main sticking points. Doubts over its
reliability prompted a special investigation by the FDA, which
discovered some of the tests were "seriously flawed". A senior FDA
toxicologist told a Congressional committee: "At least one test has
established beyond any reasonable doubt that aspartame is capable of
producing brain tumours in animals."

IN 1981 an internal memo from three FDA scientists advised against
approval of NutraSweet. That year President Reagan fired the FDA
commissioner and gave the job to Dr Arthur Hull Hayes. Three months
later aspartame was passed for limited use and within two years was also
approved for beverages.

The FDA's decision paved the way for 100 regulatory bodies in other
countries to follow suit, including Britain. By 1985 Searle had been
acquired by Monsanto - the company that invented Agent Orange - and
aspartame became the market leader. As consumption of aspartame grew,
with products such as Diet Coke and Wrigley's sugar-free gum, so did the
concerns. The FDA has received reports of 92 different symptoms, claimed
to have been triggered by aspartame. They include headaches, skin
problems, gastro-intestinal problems, poor vision, depression,
carbohydrate cravings, panic attacks, irregular heart rhythms,
behavioural problems and seizures. The FDA stresses that none has yet
been proved.

Dr Hyman Roberts, of the Palm Beach Institute for Medical Research in
Florida, had welcomed aspartame. "When it was introduced, I recommended
it to diabetic patients because it contained no sugar, calories,
cholesterol or sodium. It was a godsend," he said. However, he then saw
more patients with problems such as chronic headaches, impaired vision
and panic attacks. "We narrowed down the culprit to aspartame," he
added.

The most common reaction among his 1,200 aspartame-sensitive patients
has been headaches. "I also had numerous diabetic patients whose
condition has been exacerbated by aspartame, including eye and nerve
problems," he said. "When they were taken off aspartame, they improved
dramatically."

During digestion aspartame breaks down into several constituents
including methanol, which can act as a brain toxin, according to Dr
Madelon Price, professor of neurobiology at Washington University
Medical School. "Methanol can lead to visual problems, headaches and
muscle cramps," she said.

Monsanto and NutraSweet argue that all the constituents of aspartame are
in much greater quantities in natural drinks such as milk and tomato
juice, not considered a health risk.

Four years ago an article in the American Association of
Neuropathologists' journal claimed the sweetener was a "promising
candidate" to explain a 10 per cent rise in brain tumour rates in
America. The authors relied on an early trial in which some rats fed on
aspartame developed brain tumours.

NUTRASWEET said the report's authors had "manipulated" their data and
pointed to other studies which showed its product was safe.

A British Government committee on carcinogenicity agreed there were
flaws with the American study and rejected the allegation.

However, last month scientists at King's College in London began a
three-year study to see whether aspartame could cause brain tumours in
people with a certain genetic make-up.

Dr Peter Nunn, who is leading the team, said: "Some studies have shown a
link between aspartame and primary brain tumours, and some have shown no
link.

"This study does not set out to rubbish aspartame. It is a serious study
into whether people with certain genes are more susceptible to these
compounds than others."

Liberal Democrat MP Norman Baker has urged the Government to
investigate. "We do not know whether aspartame is dangerous," he said.
"But independent researchers have expressed serious concerns. Aspartame
should be withdrawn immediately pending further investigation."

 Additional reporting by Jonathan Calvert and Sarah Stacey © Express
Newspapers, 1999



http://www.lineone.net/express/00/01/09/news/n0100splash-d.html

Prove that diet drinks are safe
INVESTIGATION By Lucy Johnston

THE SUNDAY Express today demands a Government inquiry into the safety of
aspartame, Britain's best-selling low calorie sweetener after mounting
concern that it poses a health risk. The sweetener - sold as NutraSweet
and Canderel and found in products such as diet drinks and desserts -has
been linked with more than 90 adverse reactions including brain tumours
and blindness.

Aspartame has been used for 18 years but no study has properly analysed
the affects of long-term exposure. It is now being questioned by a
growing number of scientists, consumer groups and MPs.

The evidence is still inconclusive and its manufacturers Monsanto, are
confident existing research has declared it safe. A spokesperson said:
"This product has been approved by health and regulatory authorities
across the world. No credible, well-controlled independent research
shows any link between health risks and aspartame."

But most of the studies that declare it safe are funded by the food
industry. An analysis of studies in America until 1996 found that 92 per
cent of independent research papers expressed concerns. © Express
Newspapers, 1999




My two years of hell on low calorie drinks 

DOZENS of people have contacted the Sunday Express claiming they have
suffered adverse reactions from Britain's best-selling low calorie
sweetener aspartame.

This follows our revelations last week that a growing number of
scientists, consumer groups and MPs are questioning its safety.

One reader, Lyn Hunter, says she regularly drank aspartame-flavoured
soft drinks and chewed aspartame-sweetened gum. Two years ago she began
to suffer pain in her feet. The pain spread to her hands, wrists,
elbows, neck and shoulders.

Her doctor carried out blood tests for rheumatoid arthritis. Although
the tests were negative, he treated her for the condition anyway. But
the pain grew worse. Lyn, 49, of Liverpool, said: "It got to the stage
where I was ready to commit suicide. Nothing could combat the ache. I
couldn't sleep, dress or wash myself. My body was just screaming in
agony."

She also suffered headaches, lack of concentration, confusion, excessive
tiredness and insomnia. She saw various doctors, including a
hypnotherapist and rheumatologist, but it seemed nothing could help. "I
was taking maximum strength, maximum dose painkillers daily along with
my medication but it had no effect," she said. Last September a work
colleague suggested Lyn may have an allergy.

Her own research led to the discovery that joint pain had been reported
as a side-effect of aspartame. So she removed it from her diet.

"I noticed a difference within days and after a week most of my symptoms
had almost disappeared," she said. Lyn is just one of a number of people
who have complained of a series of debilitating symptoms such as
headaches, joint pains, depression and poor vision which they believe
could be linked to aspartame. Two of the alleged victims have engaged
lawyers to investigate whether they may be able to sue the
manufacturers.

Aspartame is produced by a number of firms, including the US multi-
national Monsanto. Sold under the brand names NutraSweet or Canderel, it
is widely used in products such as diet drinks and yoghurts. It has been
linked with more than 90 adverse reactions, including brain tumours and
blindness.

Monsanto is confident that existing research has proved its safety. It
says: "This product has been approved by health and regulatory
authorities across the world. No credible, well-controlled independent
research shows any link between health risks and aspartame." But last
week the Sunday Express demanded that the Government fund fresh research
into the effects of long-term exposure. Since then we have been
inundated with phone calls and letters.

Barbara Simmons, 66, drank diet drinks for years in an effort to control
her weight. She began to suffer from very bad headaches.

"The pain used to come during the night from the back of the head to the
front. It would cause my eye to drop on the left hand side and my left
eye would narrow to a slit. It got so bad no painkillers could help."

About three years ago a friend told her that she believed her daughter's
headaches were caused by aspartame and that she should remove it from
her diet. "It took me a while to remove it completely - I didn't realise
it was in so many products.

I was taking it in jellies, blancmanges, orange drinks and fizzy
drinks."

Within weeks of eliminating aspartame from her diet, Barbara's headaches
stopped. That was three years ago and she has not had another headache
since.

Liberal Democrat consumer affairs spokesman Norman Baker said last night
that he would be seeking a meeting with health ministers to discuss
concerns raised by Sunday Express readers.

"It is clear that aspartame requires a further and more detailed
investigation to establish whether it should be taken off the market,"
he said.

A spokesman for NutraSweet said: "Ever since NutraSweet has been on the
market, it has provided an inquiry line and when every one of these
allegations is investigated by researchers it has not been possible to
connect it with aspartame."

Aspartame has been used for 18 years but no study has properly analysed
the effects of long-term exposure. An analysis of studies in America
until 1996 found that 92 per cent of independent research papers
expressed concern that aspartame may be linked to illnesses such as
brain tumours, blindness and seizures. As well as fizzy drinks and
chewing gum, it is found in sweets, beer, spring water and vitamins. It
is 200 times sweeter than sugar but contains virtually no calories.
Sales are worth more than £625million a year.

http://www.readthelabel.org.uk/

Sunday Express May 20, 2001

Sweetener probed by Lucy Johnston

Action at last over additive Aspartame as fears grow of health risk in food
and drink.

THE Government has ordered a top-level investigation into the safety of
Britain’s best-welling sweetener amid fears that the low-calorie chemical is
a health risk.

Aspartame, used in thousands of diet food and drinks has been linked to more
than 90 adverse reactions including brain tumours and blindness.

The Sunday Express has seen a leaked letter which reveals the Government’s
food watchdog ... the Food Standards Agency ... has sent more than 500
research papers on the chemical to the Brussels-based Scientific Committee
on Food.

If it finds it is a heath risk, the sweetener widely used in fizzy drinks,
squashes, yoghurts, spring water, chewing gum and pharmaceutical products,
and often sold under the names Nutrasweet and Canderel, could be banned.

Last night, Liberal Democrat MP Norman Baker, who is campaigning for
NutraSweet to be taken off the shelves added:  "This is a very positive
step.  Doubts have been raised about this product and they need to be
cleared."

Last September, the Sunday Express led calls for an inquiry after our
investigations discovered large numbers of people were claiming their health
has been damaged by the sweetener.

They included Lyn Hunter, 49, of Liverpool, who regularly drank diet drinks
with Aspartame and had pain in her limbs, headaches, lack of concentration
and insomnia.

Her constant pain became so great she even considered suicide.  Her doctor
treated her for arthritis even though tests for this condition were
negative.  When she eliminated Aspartame her symptoms disappeared.

The leaked letter from the food scientist Dr Sandy Lawrie expresses concern
that Aspartame has not been reviewed by the Scientific Committee on Food for
13 years.

It states:  "We have discovered more than 500 papers on Aspartame published
between 1988 and 2000.  There is clearly sufficient new data on Aspartame to
justify a review."

 Sources at the agency say that if scientists find strong evidence about
dangers of a product, they will advise an EU-wide ban.

A spokeswoman for European manufacturers of Aspartame, Ajinomoto, said:
"All of the good scientific data shows it is safe.   No data raises any
concerns about Aspartame either new or old."

However, many studies which have not been sponsored by the food industry
highlight potential dangers.  Professor Ralph Walton of Northwestern Ohio
Universities said:  "I dispute the assertion that there are no health risks.

"I believe Aspartame increases risk of cancer.  Virtually all the studies
attesting to its safety have been funded by the industry."

One independent study on animals shows how digestion breaks Aspartame down
into formaldehyde, which accumulates in the animals’ cells, damaging DNA and
poisoning the liver, kidneys, eye and brain.  However, the manufacturers
argue that all the constituents of Aspartame are found in much greater
quantities in natural drinks such as milk and tomato juice, and are not
considered a health risk.

In the US, there are now five Aspartame detox centres.  Symptoms reported to
America’s Food and Drug administration include headaches, skin problems,
stomach disorders, poor vision, depression carbohydrate cravings, panic
attacks, irregular heart rhythms and seizures.

For more information send an SAE to Geoff Brewer, Additives Survivors
Network, 68 Downlands Road, Devizes, SN10 5EF or visit the online support
group at www.dorway.com.