FDA rebuffs call for aspartame probe

CNN ^ | 06.30.07

[Coleus]

A U.S. consumer group called for an urgent Food and Drug Administration review of the safety of aspartame on Monday, but the FDA said there was no immediate need to do so despite a new study showing the sweetener may cause cancer.  Italian researchers published a new study last week that showed aspartame -- widely used in soft drinks -- might cause leukemia, lymphoma and breast cancer in rats.   "This is the second study by the same lab showing that aspartame causes cancer in rats," Center for Science in the Public Interest executive director Michael Jacobson said in a telephone interview.  Aspartame is used mostly in soft drinks but is also sold in packets to use in coffee, tea or on food. "People can easily avoid products using Nutrasweet or Equal and keep these products away from kids," Jacobson added.

Morando Soffritti of the Ramazzini Foundation in Bologna, Italy, and colleagues tested aspartame in rats, which they allowed to live until they died naturally.  Their study of more than 4,000 rats showed a lifetime of eating high doses of the sweetener raised the likelihood of several types of cancer.  "On the basis of the present findings, we believe that a review of the current regulations governing the use of aspartame cannot be delayed," Soffritti's team wrote in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives, which is published by the U.S. National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences.  "This review is particularly urgent with regard to aspartame-containing beverages, heavily consumed by children."  FDA spokesman Michael Herndon said the agency had not reviewed the study.

"However, the conclusions from this second European Ramazzini Foundation are not consistent with those from the large number of studies on aspartame that have been evaluated by FDA, including 5 previously conducted negative chronic carcinogenicity studies

[Coleus]

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[chesty_puller]

Keep your rat away from diet soda.

[HiTech RedNeck]

The moral of the story is: Do not feed Nutrasweet to pet rats.

[txzman]

Interesting to note that most neurologists and MS specialists will tell their patients to cut out artifical sweetners immediately.

[Perdogg]

This says it all: "People shouldn't panic, but they should stop buying beverages and foods containing aspartame,"

If it is bad for you, then why not panic??? This all you need know about Mike Jacobsen

[Maelstorm]

I have a hard time believing this study is accurate. If it is one should be able to show a statistically significant correlation between increased cancer rates and the introduction of the nutrasweet. As far as I know that has never been discovered. My biggest doubt concerning the idea that somehow aspartame is causing cancer is that the two major components of aspartame are commonly found in many foods naturally.

[HiTech RedNeck]

Any Nutrasweet effect on cancer would be way down in the statistical noise. Real life has to be taken into account too: It’s well known that being overweight contributes to some cancers, and Nutrasweet is usually consumed as an alternative to more calorie-laden sugars in an effort to reverse, stop, or at least slow weight gain.

[slow5poh]

I have always wonder if aspartame is bad for you. I tend to think that if you are going to have a soda you may as well have the real thing. It tastes better, and the real sugar in it is probably better for you than the fake sugar anyhow.
IMO.

[ken21]

this crops up every few months, an urban legend.

same with soy beans and masculinity.

never mind that asians have huge populations,

have on the average i.q.’s 15 points above caucasians,

[Perdogg]

It’s not about wonder, it’s about science. Groups like CSIPI should not be allowed to commit emotional terrorism.

[rxgalfl]

The whole hoopla it’s about the breakdown of the aspartame upon ingestion and specifically so into phenylalanine, formaldehyde and methanol. Common sense should tell anyone (without the need of research) that knowingly exposing your body to them it’s reckless. Unless you are diabetic, lay off artificial sweetener, forget about soda (diet or regular) and drink water. What happened to the times when a Coke was just a treat? I am always stunned when I see parents buying juice drinks or sweetened, artificially colored water masquerading as juice and thinking they are doing the kids good. And we wonder why we lead the world in obesity... Oh, the false sense of security by ordering an extra large Diet Coke at McDonalds along with a tub of French fries. Why bother?

[Perdogg]

More formaldehyde is produced drinking water than diet soda.

[toast]

If a rat were given the same amount of aspartame as 7 cans of diet Coke per day I would like it compared to the rat that was given the equivalent amount of sugar in 7 cans of regular Coke. Let’s see which rat is healthier.

[Evie Munchkin]

I truly believe that aspartame is a poison. When I was younger I was drinking at least a 2 liter bottle of Diet Pepsi a day and I have some major mood changes every time I consumed it. My family noticed that every time I drank the stuff I would become very hyperactive and mean, almost violent. As soon as I cut out all aspartame then I went back to being my calm, laid back self. Haven’t touched the stuff in 20 years and I recommend that people stay away from it.

[grey_whiskers]

I have a hard time believing this study is accurate. If it is one should be able to show a statistically significant correlation between increased cancer rates and the introduction of the nutrasweet.

The truth is that lab rats cause cancer.

They're the only consistent thing in all the studies... ;-)

Cheers!

[bybybill]

Aspartame and George Bush are to blame for all the world`s troubles.

[Perdogg]

Good thing they don’t export diet drinks from China.

[berdie]

I find your post interesting in the comparison between the ingredients of aspertame and our everyday food being similar. When you say “natural foods” do you mean home grown or processed food? I certainly don’t disagree..just needing further clarification.

Myself, I don’t think the finger can, or, should be pointed at any one product. We live in a world of preservatives, insecticides and “hormonal enhancement”. Not to mention chemical laden water. We have these things in common, so sadly, we will have the risk of disease in common.

[rxgalfl]

Aspartame and George Bush are to blame for all the world`s troubles.

Actually the nutbags are blaming Rumsfeld who was the CEO of GD Searle when Equal was FDA approved and supposedly he's been successful at shutting down all negative research on aspartame. For once GW got a break but the cooks are out there coming up with other conspiracies...