Aspartame Lawsuits Against some of the largest companies in the world

Subj: ~~BREAKING: ASPARTAME LAWSUITS ACCUSE MANY COMPANIES OF POISONING
THE PUBLIC ~~
Date: 4/9/04 5:52:22 PM Eastern Daylight Time

This release is issued by courtesy of:
WORLD NATURAL HEALTH ORGANIZATION
(for further information on this Breaking News and History of
Aspartame) www.wnho.net...

NATIONAL JUSTICE LEAGUE
www.nationaljusticeleague.com...
2205 Hilltop Dr. Ste. 2022
Redding, Ca 96002
Phone : 208-246-1171
California: 530-248-3483
Cell Phone: 208-890-0034
E-mail: [email protected]

April 6, 2004 ~~FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE~~

~~~~ASPARTAME LAWSUITS ACCUSE MANY COMPANIES OF POISONING THE PUBLIC~~~~
Defendants in the lawsuits include Coca-cola, PepsiCo, Bayer Corp., the
Dannon Company, William Wrigley Jr. Company, Walmart, ConAgra Foods, Wyeth,
Inc., The NutraSweet Company, and Altria Corp. (parent company of Kraft
Foods and Philip Morris).

SACRAMENTO-- April 6th, Lawsuits were filed in three separate California
courts against twelve companies who either produce or use the artificial
sweetener aspartame as a sugar substitute in their products. The suits were
filed in Shasta, Sonoma and Butte County, California.

The suits allege that the food companies committed fraud and breach of
warranty by marketing products to the public such as diet Coke, diet Pepsi,
sugar free gum, Flintstone's vitamins, yogurt and children's aspirin with
the full knowledge that aspartame, the sweetener in them, is neurotoxic.

Aspartame is a drug masquerading as an additive. It interacts with other
drugs, has a synergistic and additive effect with MSG, and is a chemical
hyper-sensitization agent. As far back as 1970, Dr. John Olney founded the
field of neuroscience called excitotoxicity when he did studies on aspartic
acid, which makes up 40% of aspartame, and found it caused lesions in the
brains of mice. He made world news on the aspartame/brain tumor connection
in l996. Dr. Ralph Walton, Professor and Chairman of the Department of
Psychiatry, Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine has written
of the behavioral and psychiatric problems triggered by aspartame-caused
depletion of serotonin.

Aspartame causes headache, memory loss, seizures, vision loss, coma
and cancer. It worsens or mimics the symptoms of such diseases and
conditions as fibromyalgia, MS, lupus, ADD, diabetes, Alzheimer's, chronic
fatigue and depression.

Aspartame liberates free methyl alcohol. The resulting chronic methanol
poisoning affects the dopamine system of the brain causing addiction.
Methanol, or wood alcohol, constitutes one-third of the aspartame molecule
and is classified as a severe metabolic poison and narcotic.

Recent news is full of reports of world-class athletes and other healthy
consumers of aspartame suddenly dropping dead. Sudden death can occur
from aspartame use because it damages the cardiac conduction system.

Dr. Woodrow Monte in the peer reviewed journal, Aspartame: Methanol and the
Public Health, wrote: "When diet sodas and soft drinks, sweetened with
aspartame, are used to replace fluid loss during exercise and physical
exertion in hot climates, the intake of methanol can exceed 250 mg/day or
32 times the Environmental Protection Agency's recommended limit of
consumption for this cumulative poison."

The effects of aspartame are documented by the FDA's own
data. In 1995 the agency was forced, under the Freedom Of Information
Act, to release a list of ninety-two aspartame symptoms reported by
thousands of victims. This is only the tip of the iceberg. H. J. Roberts,
MD, published the medical text "Aspartame Disease: An Ignored Epidemic" --
1,000 pages of symptoms and diseases triggered by this neurotoxin including
the sordid history of its approval.

Since its discovery in 1965, controversy has raged over the health risks
associated with the sugar substitute. From laboratory testing of the
chemical on rats, researchers have discovered that the drug induces brain
tumors. On Sept 30, l980 the Board of Inquiry of the FDA concurred and
denied the petition for approval. In l981, the newly appointed FDA
Commissioner, Arthur Hull Hayes, ignored the negative ruling and approved
aspartame for dry goods. As recorded in the Congressional Record of 1985,
then CEO of Searle Laboratories Donald Rumsfeld said that he would call in
his markers to get aspartame approved. Rumsfeld was on President Reagan's
transition team and a day after taking office appointed Hayes. No FDA
Commissioner in the previous sixteen years had allowed Aspartame on the
market.

In 1983, aspartame was approved for use in carbonated beverages. Today it
is found in over 5000 foods, drinks and medicines.

Neurosurgeon Russell Blaylock, MD, author of "Excitotoxins: The Taste That
Kills" (www.russellblaylockmd.com...) wrote about the relationship
between aspartame and macular degeneration, diabetic blindness and glaucoma
(all known to result from excitotoxin accumulation in the retina).

All of these neurodegenerative diseases are worsened by aspartame. In
addition, we now have evidence that excitotoxins play a major role in
exacerbation of MS and other demyelinating disorders including trigeminal
neuraliga. Blaylock says that new studies show excitotoxins trigger
significant elevation of free radicals in the lining (endothelial cells) of
arteries, which means that aspartame will increase the incidence of heart
attacks and strokes (atherosclerosis).

In original studies, aspartame has triggered brain, mammary, uterine,
ovarian, testicular, thyroid and pancreatic tumors.

Plaintiffs have asked for an injunction to stop companies from
producing, manufacturing, processing, selling or using aspartame.

Plaintiffs in all three cases are seeking a jury trial.

If you would like to schedule someone from the National Justice League for
an interview, please call or fax us at 208-246-1171.

Roberta Bellon, Public Relations

This release is issued by courtesy of:
WORLD NATRAL HEALTH ORGANIZATION
(for further information on this Breaking News and History of
Aspartame) www.wnho.net...

NATIONAL JUSTICE LEAGUE
www.nationaljusticeleague.com...
2205 Hilltop Dr. Ste. 2022
Redding, Ca 96002
Phone: 208-246-1171
California: 530-248-3483
Cell Phone: 208-890-0034
E-mail: [email protected]

FOR INFORMATION ON ASPARTAME:
www.dorway.com...
www.wnho.net...

You can also contact Dr. Betty Martini, Founder, Mission Possible Intl,
9270 River Club Parkway, Duluth, Georgia 30097 USA 770 242-2599

Interesting!
I've read a great deal about Aspartame over the years. If half of what has been written and published online is true, then this is a very scary product!!
Thank you for posting this. Please keep us up to date.
Cheers,
Grey Pilgrim

Anyone avoiding aspartame should know the new Coke C2 is full of it.

It's not makerted as DIET or LOW CAL or anything like that which those suffering from phenylketonurics (or PKU) have learned to avoid. It's marketed as COKE (with half the carbs) as identified by a simple C2. That's it. You'd hardly notice the difference when grabbing a can from the cooler or even drinking it.

But it's half the sugar PLUS aspartame. TWO POISONS for the price of one.

But seriously, watch out for aspartame being slipped into foods hawking low carb benefits. This goes without saying for PKU sufferers as they have a deficiency of an enzyme which is necessary for the proper metabolism of the amino acid called Phenylalanine (the component in aspartame).

The scary part is how we're all slowly being put on this aspartame diet as pre-packaged foods go "low carb". People that would never dream of drinking a diet soda will drink C2 I believe, and never know the difference because it has enough sugar to trick you into not noticing the asper-taste.

Surprise! Your low carb diet may be eating holes in your brain.

And the most disturbing thing to me is how our kids are pumped FULL of this stuff daily with no awareness whatsoever. I am horrified by the kids I see consuming this stuff even when their parents think they are eating healthy foods. Anyone else noticing this? At the very least there should be a warning on diet soda cans that children should NOT be drinking diet sodas. But even things assumed by most parents to be healthy choices (yogurt) are full of it.

This is frightening!

Well is about time something came to the light about this sustitute sweetener, I remember when I decide to be off regular sugar, I tried from aspartame, sucralose, stevia and splenda.

I decided between stevia and splenda, splenda been the one closed enough to regular sugar for me.

[edit on 20-6-2004 by marg6043]

If the allegations were true, then most people over the age of 30 would be having frequent hospitalizations.

Count the number of people over 30 you know who drink diet drinks (including those of us who have drunk it for 20-plus years.) Now, check to see how their health conditions differ from everyone else.

Truth is, there's no difference. Yes, some are sensitive to the stuff -- but you can find people who are equally sensitive to soy, to wheat, to corn, to milk, to fish, to shellfish, to citrus fruits... and so on and so forth.

Aspartame is not the most dangerous compound out there. Hear about the dangers of Dihydrogen Monoxide:

Dihydrogen Monoxide (DHMO) is a colorless and odorless chemical compound, also referred to by some as Dihydrogen Oxide, Hydrogen Hydroxide, Hydronium Hydroxide, or simply Hydric acid. Its basis is the unstable radical Hydroxide, the components of which are found in a number of caustic, explosive and poisonous compounds such as Sulfuric Acid, Nitroglycerine and Ethyl Alcohol.

What are some of the dangers associated with DHMO?
Each year, Dihydrogen Monoxide is a known causative component in many thousands of deaths and is a major contributor to millions upon millions of dollars in damage to property and the environment. Some of the known perils of Dihydrogen Monoxide are: Death due to accidental inhalation of DHMO, even in small quantities.
Prolonged exposure to solid DHMO causes severe tissue damage.
Excessive ingestion produces a number of unpleasant though not typically life-threatening side-effects.
DHMO is a major component of acid rain.
Gaseous DHMO can cause severe burns.
Contributes to soil erosion.
Leads to corrosion and oxidation of many metals.
Contamination of electrical systems often causes short-circuits.
Exposure decreases effectiveness of automobile brakes.
Found in biopsies of pre-cancerous tumors and lesions.

***Source: www.dhmo.org... ***
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.

What is Dihydrogen Monoxide? It's H20 - water !!!

Anything can be made to sound dangerous.


The FDA has determined that aspartame is safe:
vm.cfsan.fda.gov...

Also see
www.aspartame.net...

The goal of corporations is to make a profit. These companies pour billions of dollars into R&D to make sure that the chemicals they use are safe for consumption, so that they are not faced with financially crippling lawsuits. Major corporations would not intentionally poison and cause the early death of their own consumers. It makes no sense financially.

This is one of the major problems with our country, is all these frivoulous lawsuits. People always want to shift the blame to some one else. No one wants to point a finger at themselves.

Terrific post M87. Anything can be made to sound inherently dangerous.

For anyone interested in opposing views on Aspartame here are several links. Both state that nutrasweet are safe for not only adults but children as well.

Lancet

Snopes

www.eatright.org...

What Sucks is I love the Crystal Light and it has it in it. I know other than that stuff, I use the Splenda, but there hasnt been much time or studies on that done either, anyone here bad things about Splenda?

Alot of people prefer Splenda and consider it safer ShiftTrio thus calling for it to replace aspartame, but it's been found too expensive by most manufacturers.

The FDA does consider cost implications in its' health risk decisions BTW. "Safe" implies only acceptable risk, not "good for you".

Originally posted by RANT

The FDA does consider cost implications in its' health risk decisions BTW. "Safe" implies only acceptable risk, not "good for you".

There is a risk in everything that you consume. FDA rarely endorses things that are "good for you". When FDA says that something is safe, it's a pretty sure bet that it is.

Let me preface the following by saying that my views are my personal opinions, and I do not drink soda, diet or otherwise, but not because of aspartame, but because soda is a major contributor to tooth-decay, and obesity. But I've made the personal choice not consume these products. People are not forced to drink sodas. It is not their inherent right, protected by the Constitution. If you don't think that pop is good for you, then drink something else!

The main argument made by those who claim that aspartame is a danger, is that the byproducts of digestion of aspartame, methanol and phenylalanine, are poisonous to the human body. Well, that is true, in large quantities, methanol and phenylalanine are poisonous. However, the amount of methanol and phenylalanine produced from digestion of aspartame is insignificant. In fact:

Although a 330 ml can of aspartame-sweetened soft drink will yield about 20 mg methanol, an equivalent volume of fruit juice produces 40 mg methanol, and an alcoholic beverage about 60-100 mg. The yield of phenylalanine is about 100 mg for a can of diet soft drink, compared with 300 mg for an egg, 500 mg for a glass of milk, and 900 mg for a large hamburger . Thus, the amount of phenylalanine or methanol ingested from consumption of aspartame is trivial, compared with other dietary sources. Clinical studies have shown no evidence of toxic effects and no increase in plasma concentrations of methanol, formic acid, or phenylalanine with daily consumption of 50 mg/kg aspartame (equivalent to 17 cans of diet soft drink daily for a 70 kg adult) .

*** Source: www.aspartame.net... ***

You would have to drink 9 sodas, to match the amount of phenylalanine resulting from a consumption of a single hamburger.

I understand that conspiracy theories are popular, and that this is a place to discuss them. However, this is also a Science and Technology forum. And as any good scientist knows, you always have to back up your claims by solid evidence.

I've searched google for information about aspartame "dangers", and came across one of the most frequently visited websites regarding the "dangers" of aspartame: www.dorway.com...

All of the evidence on this website is purely anecdotal. There are no legitimate refernces listed on the website. They make all kinds of sensationalistic claims, and yet fail to produce any scientific evidence to back it up.



This website claims 92 symptoms associated with the toxicity of aspartame!

Just as no single chemical cures everything,
none causes everything.

*** Source: TIME, FEBRUARY 8, 1999 VOL. 153 NO. 5, "A Web of Deceit"

Everything we consume is laced with chemicals. Even the so called "naturalists" who only eat "organic" foods, don't realize that these fruits and vegetables have been irrigated with water that is laced with fluoride. These plants' roots are sucking in moisture from ground water that is contaminated with run-offs from hospitals and pharmacuetical plants.

There is no "pure" food or water. And yet despite all these chemicals, somehow, the quality of life is at a record high and life expectancy is significantly increased. These types of claims that try to panic the masses, serve no purpose other then to give the 15 minutes of fame to those purpotrating these claims.

Maybe I dont feel so bad about Crystal Light after all =).

Thanks for the Opinion