In 1999, FDA officials described the safety of aspartame as "clear cut" and stated that the product is "one of the most thoroughly tested and studied food additives the agency has ever approved. But, some people believe that Aspartame is, by far, the most dangerous substance on the market that is added to foods.
In 1981, FDA Commissioner Arthur Hull Hayes approved the use of aspartame in dry foods. Several objections followed, but all were denied. In 1983, the FDA further approved aspartame for use in carbonated beverages, and for use in other beverages, baked goods, and confections. In 1996, the FDA removed all restrictions from aspartame allowing it to be used in all foods. In November 1983, Arthur Hayes left the FDA and joined the public-relations firm Burson-Marsteller as a senior medical advisor. Because Burson-Marsteller had done public relations work for Searle, this decision would later fuel controversy.
Aspartame is an artificial sweetener. It is 180 times sweeter than sugar in typical concentrations, without the high energy value of sugar. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) did not approve the use of aspartame as a food additive in the United States for many years.
In 1985, Monsanto bought G.D. Searle - and the aspartame business became a separate Monsanto subsidiary, the NutraSweet Company. On May 25, 2000, Monsanto sold it to J.W. Childs Equity Partners II L.P.
The U.S. Government trusts the manufacturer of a product to perform its own safety tests. Is this wise?
What The Critics Of Aspartame Have To Say:
Aspartame accounts for over 75 percent of the adverse reactions to food additives reported to the FDA. Many of these reactions are very serious including seizures and death. A few of the 90 different documented symptoms listed in the report as being caused by aspartame include: Headaches/migraines, dizziness, seizures, nausea, numbness, muscle spasms, weight gain, rashes, depression, fatigue, irritability, tachycardia, insomnia, vision problems, hearing loss, heart palpitations, breathing difficulties, anxiety attacks, slurred speech, loss of taste, tinnitus, vertigo, memory loss, and joint pain.
"The Deadly Deception" is a book that cites examples of cover ups by Searle and negligence by the FDA. Here are some highlights from it:
In 1969 - Dr. Harry Waisman gave aspartame mixed with milk to monkeys. One died after 300 days of and five others had grand mal seizures. Searle deleted this negative study when the company submitted safety evidence to the FDA.
In 1970 - The FDA banned sodium cyclamate during the time that the safety of saccharin was also being questioned. The time seemed right for a new and safe artificial sweetener.
In 1971 - Dr. John Olney, a research psychiatrist, told the Searle company that aspartic acid caused "holes in the brains of mice."
In 1974 - the Searle company said these studies raised "no health problems." Searle told the FDA about these findings after approval was granted.
In 1975 - Many of the test animals fed aspartame developed large TUMORS. These tumors were NOT reported to the FDA.
In 1977 - The FDA Chief Counsel Richard Merrill recommended to U.S. Attorney Sam Skinner that a grand jury investigate Searle for "apparent violations of the Federal Food, Drugs and Cosmetic Act, 21 USC 331 (e), and the False Reports to the Government Act 18 USC 1001, for "their willful and knowing failure to make reports to the Food and Drug Administration required by the Act 21 USC 355e (i), and for concealing material facts and making false statements in reports of animal studies conducted to establish the safety of aspartame." This was the first time in history that the FDA made a criminal referral to law enforcement about a food additive.
As this was happening two US attorneys were assigned to this criminal case. They were William Conlon and Thomas Sullivan. Both these US attorneys, took no action on the case, and in five years the statute of limitations for a grand jury investigation had expired. One year later one of these government lawyers (Conlon) took a position with the law firm representing Searle. Later, U.S. Attorney, Samuel Skinner himself did the same thing and ended up as the head of the Dept. of Transportation, over at the FAA, and then moved into position of Chief of Staff in Bush's White House.
In 1980 - A Public Board of Inquiry consisting of three scientists was activated. These (2 MDs and one PhD) voted to ban aspartame. Because of these negative findings a five member Commissioner's Team of Scientists was impaneled: Three of them said ban the substance; two said it was safe. Somehow another member was added to the team. This resulted in a deadlock. Dr. Jacqueline Verrett, PhD, a toxicologist who was on the team said, "Bureau officials were working up to a whitewash. Safety questions remain unanswered." Later in that year Ronald Wilson Reagan was elected President of the United States and on his presidential transition team was a man named Donald Rumsfeld. Donald Rumsfeld was the former CEO of the Searle company and a major stockholder.
In 1981 - Dr. Arthur Hull Hayes, Jr. was appointed the new FDA Commissioner by President Reagan and he overuled the Public Board of Inquiry's recommended ban of aspartame. He said his approval was part of the Reagan administration's new era of reform. Throughout the 1980's Searle has pointed out that the best evidence of aspartame's safety was the fact that it had been approved in more than 60 countries. But these foreign approvals had been based on Searle's own controversial tests, and the earlier approval by the FDA! It was approved as a "food additive," and hence, exempt from continued safety monitoring, which means that Searle is not obligated to monitor any future adverse reactions.
In 1983 - THE NATIONAL SOFT DRINK ASSOCIATION wrote to the FDA that aspartame was breaking down in warm climates. But the Association later accepted aspartame. Dr. Arthur Hayes' office approved the use of aspartame in soft drinks just two months before he quit his job as FDA chief. He then obtained a job with the public relations firm Burson-Marsteller who represents NutraSweet. Burson-Marsteller also represents Blackwater USA, Babcock & Wilcox (of Three Mile Island fame), the government of Columbia, the government of Nigeria, the government of Romania (despite Nicolae Ceauşescu), the government of Argentina (defending them against charges of crimes against humanity), Phillip Morris the tobacco company, the government of Saudi Arabia, and last but not least the Union Carbide Corporation because of the Bhopal disaster which killed or injured more than 2000 people.
In 1991 - JUDGE CLARENCE THOMAS a Monsanto Attorney, was appointed to the U.S. Supreme Court, amidst swirling controversy. Donald Rumsfeld made 12 million dollars on the sale of his stock when Searle was sold to the Monsanto company.
In 2000 - George W. Bush was elected President of the United States. Donald Rumsfeld would later become the Secretary of Defense in his administration. We all know how that war worked out.
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