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Aspartame: Sweet Taste of Cancer?

THURSDAY JUNE 28 2007 4:00 PM

Submitted by evanharos. Edited By erin_broadley.

TAGS: aspartame, cancer, fda, Rumsfeld

Aspartame, the artificial sweetener that turns up in countless diet food products, may not be healthy for you, especially if you consider cancer unhealthy.

A new study on aspartame conducted by the Ramazzini Foundation reveals that aspartame causes a dose-dependent increase in cancers (lymphomas, leukemias and breast cancers) when consumed at levels approaching those consumed by humans in diet soft drinks.

Now hold on here, aspartame is a product approved and staunchly defended by the FDA. Surely the FDA would never approve a product that was unsafe? In fact, the FDA initially banned the use of aspartame up until the 1980s because of uncertainties about its health risks, including evidence that it may cause brain tumors. It wasn�t until 1981 that the FDA finally approved the substance. Who was the man responsible for finally pushing through FDA approval of aspartame? None other than Donald Rumsfeld.

Donald Rumsfeld was at that time chairman of GD Searle, the company that manufactured aspartame. Rummy became a member of Ronald Reagan�s White House transition team and hand-picked crony Arthur Hayes Hull Jr. to be the new head of the FDA. By July of 1981 aspartame was legal in dry foods and by October 1982 it was made legal for carbonated beverages (over the objections of the National Soft Drink Association).

While the recent flap over the New Zealand woman who overdosed on aspartame-flavored gum made a media splash, the clinical evidence of the dangers of aspartame is extensive and goes back decades. Ostensibly the FDA is there to protect consumers from dangerous food and drugs, but in light of other recent FDA screw-ups (painkiller Vioxx was on the market for years before being pulled off the shelves last year because it causes heart attacks and strokes) it may be that the FDA can�t be trusted to look out for the nation�s health.

45 Comments

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ThisIsWhoWeAre

Oakland, CA

July 2004

JUN 28, 2007 04:05 PM

If they pulled the "additive" suddenly, accepting that it's a carcinogen, can you fathom the STAGGERING number of lawsuits millions would plop onto the beverage industry? Coke and Pepsi have got to be quaking in their shoes...

aegies

Oakland, CA

June 2004

JUN 28, 2007 04:07 PM

I don't smoke or drink, but goddamn it YOU ARE NOT TAKING AWAY MY DIET SODA.

IKCSmiley

Asheville, NC

July 2003

JUN 28, 2007 04:09 PM

My mom's told this this 20 years ago - and we're just getting around to this now? Aspertame gives me headaches, so I never consume it anyway.....

NotJason

Orono, ME

October 2004

JUN 28, 2007 04:09 PM

Well, this isn't exactly a shock is it? I've been hearing speculation about that for years.

towelb0y

Emeryville, CA

March 2004

JUN 28, 2007 04:16 PM

this just in: man lands on the moon!

palacemuse

Phoenix, AZ

March 2005

JUN 28, 2007 04:22 PM

The taste of aspertame ruins any beverage.

unfiltrator

San Francisco, CA

April 2004

JUN 28, 2007 04:27 PM

I go here to get my news now.

ckdexterhaven

Redding, CA

December 2005

JUN 28, 2007 04:28 PM

ThisIsWhoWeAre said:
If they pulled the "additive" suddenly, accepting that it's a carcinogen, can you fathom the STAGGERING number of lawsuits millions would plop onto the beverage industry? Coke and Pepsi have got to be quaking in their shoes...

What would these lawsuits be based on? Would everyone who has cancer who has at some point consumed aspartame have the right to sue? Or are there specific cancer cases, where aspartame is linked as the cause? Not a dig, i'm just curious how that would work. I'm not lawyer, obviously.

Chacal

Fort Lauderdale, FL

July 2004

JUN 28, 2007 04:37 PM

wasn't saccharin ditched once because it caused cancer? well, i've been using splenda (or honey) in my coffee for a few years now.

by the way, saccharine is back to sodas replacing aspartame. i don't drink soda, but that probably tells something.

ogichida30

Concord, CA

September 2004

JUN 28, 2007 04:41 PM

Fuck the aspartame, I'm FUCKING IRATE at the fact another republican asshole got rich at the DIRECT cost of human lives. These are the same people that say abortion kills. Go figure.

gcash056

Orlando, FL

October 2004

JUN 28, 2007 04:47 PM

Well it gives me blurry and/or double vision, headaches, and tastes worse than ass, and still people give me shit about "not drinking diet"

I hope they all die of excruciating cancers... it'll serve 'em right!

Seriously though, they have no clue what really causes cancer. It's all a shot in the dark.

deanmoriarty

Los Osos, CA

July 2006

JUN 28, 2007 04:48 PM

wouldn't it be amazing if people could learn to use a little moderation in their lives. think of it, you could use actual sugar. gasp. yes I know, real sugar.

not to mention this http://www.webmd.com/diet/news/20050613/drink-more-diet-soda-gain-more-weight

Bren73

Parsippany, NJ

October 2005

JUN 28, 2007 05:02 PM

So glad I stay away from Diet Soda... and No the FDA can't manage dirt on a dirt farm... bunch of idiots who are in the back pocket of big businesses.

ardour

Ottawa, ON

March 2006

JUN 28, 2007 05:06 PM

Read the ingredients of almost anything that's edible. And half the shit that's in there probably doesn't need to be. It's in there to save money by making it last just a little longer or add a nice colour or something like that.

I'm not saying there's no reason for something like aspartame... I mean, there's a market for it and all. I think it's kind of scary that so many of us are so casual about it, though.

Cattra

Torrance, CA

March 2007

JUN 28, 2007 05:11 PM

palacemuse said:
The taste of aspertame ruins any beverage.

totally! and it makes soda react in an icky way in your mouth. Shit gives me tummy and headaches.

Get over the "diet soda fad" people and drink some WATER if you want to stay thin.

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