At the age of 30 months Laura Brewer developed a mysterious rash.
GPs suspected it was eczema but as the rash intensified over a
2 week period, Laura's parents started to look for fuller answers.
The Brewers received information which led them to believe that
aspartame was suspected as a trigger for various illnesses including
rashes. Examining the substances Laura regularly consumed they
found that aspartame was the sweetener in the fruit squash Laura
was drinking. After removing aspartame from Laura's diet they
found the rash went away. Then they discovered that many other
people were experiencing problems after consuming aspartame, but
it was thought that neither the UK Government nor any consumer
group was monitoring the situation.
It's a molecule composed of three substances: phenylalanine (50%)
aspartic acid (40%); and methyl ester (10%). Phenylalanine and
aspartic acid are two of the twenty amino acids found in many
of our foods. Methyl ester converts to free methyl alcohol (also
known as methanol). There's methyl alcohol in oranges and other
fruits, but accompanied by much more ethyl alcohol, the classic
antidote.
The UK's Committee on Toxicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer
Products and the Environment (COT) reviewed Aspartame in 1992
and noted from a study that: "...it was considered that the
ingestion of aspartame by migraine sufferers may cause a significant
increase in the frequency of migraine in some subjects."
1 The patent for
aspartame has expired, many companies are now producing this
chemical. Disturbingly it has been reported that some of these
companies are using genetic engineering within the manufacturing
process.
2 What do we suspect?
It is considered that aspartame could be a trigger for many
health problems and diseases. In 1995 the United States Department
of Health and Human Services recognised 92 different symptoms
including headaches, joint pains, rashes, behavioural problems,
respiratory and eye problems.
3. Some researchers
believe that chronic illnesses including brain tumours, Multiple
Sclerosis and Alzheimer's Disease can either be aggravated or
triggered by consumption of aspartame.
4. Products with
aspartame (or other artificial sweeteners): When first put into
food and drink in the UK, aspartame and similar sweeteners were
almost exclusively restricted to 'diet' type food and drink.
Now they're found in many dilutable fruit squashes, soft drinks,
diet/'light' carbonated (fizzy) drinks, chewing gum, sweets,
crisps, slimming products, yoghurts, breath fresheners, table
top sweeteners, powdered hot drinks, jelly, and even vitamin
tablets etc.
The key campaign group is Mission Possible International founded
in 1992 by Mrs Betty Martini in Atlanta, USA. Mission Possible
has links with consumer interest groups in almost every country
where aspartame is sold.
Throughout the UK, consumer interest groups are aware of the
controversy surrounding aspartame. Many health professionals working
within complementary medicine (and the NHS) share concerns over
food and drink additives.
ASN(UK) has been specifically established for people who believe
that they, family members or friends have been adversely affected
by consuming aspartame.
ASN(UK) is concerned that there are people of all ages who are
not aware that their conditions may be linked to, and exacerbated,
by artificial sweeteners and or other chemical additives. Our
immediate objectives are to:
Expand ASN(UK) in
order to promote public awareness and alert health professionals
of the possible adverse effects associated with chemical additives,
in particular artificial sweeteners such as aspartame.
Support individuals
who believe they are suffering as a result of / from the effects
of ingestion of additives such as aspartame.
Liaise with sympathetic
UK consumer interest groups in order to further our objectives.
Our longer term strategies include:
Asking Government
to initiate a full independent scientific investigation into
aspartame.
Researching the concept
of financial compensation where specific chronic conditions
can be medically proven to be associated with particular additives.
Consideration of
the practicalities of establishing a freely accessible database
through which suspected adverse reactions to aspartame (and
other chemical additives) can be collated and assessed.
1.The 'Barcelona Study' found that "aspartame
converts to formaldehyde in the bodies of aspartame consumers,
and that many of the symptoms reported by victims of aspartame
toxicity are indeed those associated with the poisonous and cumulative
effects of formaldehyde" 5. This adds weight to fears that
aspartame causes brain cancers.
2.In 1999 research started at King's College, London,
funded by The Samantha Dickson Research Trust, looking into possible
links between aspartame and increased risk of primary brain tumours.
3.Testing which resulted in the approval of aspartame
is considered by many to be at best flawed. On 29th December 1996
the American TV programme, 60 MINUTES reported on 164 studies
which have been conducted into aspartame. ALL of the 74 studies
which had been funded by the sweetener industry found no adverse
effects. However, 83 of the other 90 studies (conducted by independent
laboratories) did find problems.
4.Phenylketonuria (PKU). In the UK the incidence
of PKU is 1:20,000. Phenylketonurics have an extreme sensitivity
to the chemical phenylalanine - a component of aspartame. Estimates
show that one person in every 60 carries the defective gene responsible
for PKU
5.Babies are tested for PKU sensitivity on day
six post-natally (the Scriver Blood Test) which tests not only
for PKU but also hypothyroidism (under active thyroid). If the
baby is found to be suffering from PKU the parents are given detailed
genetic counselling, intensive intervention from a dietician,
and close follow up from a paediatric neurologist. A baby suffering
from PKU would be severely brain damaged by the age of one year
if it was not diagnosed and treated. Once a person is in their
teens, medical opinion is that it is no longer necessary for that
person to keep to the phenylalanine free diet as the critical
phase of brain development has passed. If a woman who has been
previously diagnosed as having PKU (a very rare genetic condition)
wishes to become pregnant, she receives advice to go on a diet
low in phenylalanine, though not as strict as in childhood. There
are approximately 2,800 Phenylketonuric people in the UK. ASN(UK)
together with other consumer interest organisations, believes
that there is a much wider range of people who are at risk as
a result of / or from the effects of ingesting aspartame and other
additives. Such people could be older individuals, those who are
diabetic, pregnant women, those on weight reducing diet as well
as children and young people i.e. those who would tend to be the
major consumers of food and drink containing artificial sweeteners.
It is believed that additive - induced behavioural problems in
children could be misdiagnosed (and drugs prescribed) as ADD or
ADHD.
6.Because Phenylketonurics are unable to metabolise
phenylalanine all products containing aspartame must by law carry
the wording "Contains a source of Phenylalanine"
7.The World Health Organisation and the European
Union have set an Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI) for aspartame
at 0-40 mg per kg of body weight per day. Estimates indicate that
aspartame is now found in up to 9,000 brands of processed food
and drink. Consumer interest groups believe that with aspartame
now so widely used in mainstream products, particularly those
targeted at children, the ADI is far too high and is in some cases
easily exceeded by people, unaware that an ADI exists. The EU
has ruled that aspartame should be excluded from the food and
drinks of infants and young children
8.Ironically, this ruling excludes foodstuffs which
many youngsters of this age group often consume. The EU defines
'young children' as children aged between one and three years
9.What can be used instead of artificial sweeteners?
There is a need to wean oneself off additives: reassess shopping
habits and look out for different brand names and completely natural
products e.g. you can now buy dilutable fruit drinks which are
only sweetened with fruit juice. If products contain chemicals,
avoid them. It is possible to buy pure juices and concentrates
without any sweeteners to dilute with water; desserts can be home
made using honey or minimal sugar. Food and drink without chemicals
will seem different - give your taste buds time to adjust to them
and appreciate the new found flavours. And what's wrong with drinking
water? Gradually reduce (and then eliminate) the amount of sweetener
in your hot drinks, too - it's a case of re-educating the palate.
You can even buy fully natural toothpaste but you'll probably
have difficulty finding it in supermarkets - you'll need to go
to a specialist health food shop. What to do: Look at the list
of ingredients on any processed product you buy. Be warned first
of all when reading the label on the front of the packaging. You
may see such wording as "No Added Sugar", "Reduced
Sugar", "Low Sugar" or "Low Calorie",
in which case, the full list of ingredients (on the back) will
probably contain aspartame or other artificial sweeteners i.e.
sodium saccharin (E954), Acesulfame K (E950) etc. Some products
contain more than one artificial sweetener and sugar.
1.If you are avoiding sugar for health reasons
please ensure you consult your professional medical advisor before
doing anything else. Do not stop taking any medication before
seeking professional advice.
2.Take the 60 day test: Avoid all products containing
aspartame (and, if at all possible other artificial sweeteners)
for 60 days. After this, note whether various conditions from
which you have been suffering such as migraines, headaches joint
pain etc. have receded. Please note: You may find you have withdrawal
symptoms for a few days e.g. children can crave their "aspartame-laced"drinks
and make life difficult for parents.
3.Return anything containing aspartame to the shop
from which you bought it and ask for a refund. Explain that you
did not know of the possible effects that chemical additives such
as aspartame could have, but you have now become aware and that
you may be intolerant such substances.
4.Write a letter to the shop's head office explaining
the action you have taken, ask what their policy is regarding
potentially harmful products and mention that you are in correspondence
with ASN(UK). Ask them to comment and whether they have received
other similar complaints; suggest they consider taking aspartame
and other additives such as MSG out of their own brand products.
Remind them that Iceland Group plc is doing this. Send a copy
of your letter to the manufacturer as well and ask them for their
comments.
5.Write to your local and regional newspapers explaining
your experiences. They may well give you some publicity.
6.The COT Secretariat, Food Standards Agency, Room
651C, Skipton House, Elephant and Castle, LONDON SE1 6LH If the
additive you suspect was in a medication please also copy your
complaint to The Secretary of State for Health, Richmond House
Whitehall LONDON SW1A 2NS Copy your letter to your own MP stating
your concerns. Quite a few MPs are already aware of the problems
perceived to be associated with aspartame. If your illness goes
away or your condition improves after you stop using aspartame,
then we suggest that you let your doctor know this in writing,
keep a copy and follow up your original complaint to the Secretary
of State. NB. There is no overall system for the public to file
official medical complaints relating to food products, so we suggest
you follow this procedure.
7.Tell us what you're doing: send us copies of
any replies you receive so that we can monitor who is saying what.
There are many books written about adverse reactions to aspartame,
amongst those recommended are: "Excitotoxins: The Taste That
Kills" by neurosurgeon Russell Blaylock MD, ISBN-929173252.
Aspartame (Nutrasweet ®) Is It Safe?" by H J Roberts MD,
ISBN 0-914783-58-0.
Other points to note:
ASN(UK) is concerned about the range of chemicals found in processed
foodstuffs e.g. flavour enhancers such as monosodium glutamate
also known as MSG (E621), artificial colourings, flavourings and
preservatives. We urge readers to eat and drink products which
are as natural as possible. Currently we are collecting survivors'
stories and news - do write to us. Unless stated otherwise in
your correspondence, we will assume that information you send
us can be used for publication. We plan to produce ASN(UK) Newsletters
3 times per year.
Please make cheques for £10 payable to ASN UK. Always enclose
a SAE to guarantee a reply. Donations are welcome. Please copy
and distribute this Fact Sheet. Geoff Brewer B.Sc., M.I.S.M. National
Co-ordinator Additives Survivors' Network (UK) 63 Downlands Road
DEVIZES SN10 5EF e-mail
geoffbrewer@eurobell.co.uk
If you are experiencing health problems, are diabetic etc. do
discuss aspartame with your professional medical advisor. Do not
stop taking any medication before seeking professional advice.
Fact sheet by H
J Roberts, MD, FACPD, FCCP. "Neglected Widespread Emerging
Diseases" 1998.
Trocho C et al,
Life Sciences, 1998, Vol. 63(5), pp 337-349. Life Sciences a
peer reviewed journal, published at www.elsevier.com/ by the
Elsevier Organisation. (Known as "The Barcelona Study").
