Aspartame was not approved until 1981, in dry foods. For over eight years the FDA refused to approve it because of the seizures and brain tumors this drug produced in lab animals. The FDA continued to refuse to approve it until President Reagan took office (a friend of Searle) and fired the FDA Commissioner who wouldn't approve it. Dr. Arthur Hull Hayes was appointed as commissioner. Even then there was so much opposition to approval that a Board of Inquiry was set up. The Board said: "Do not approve aspartame". Dr. Hayes overruled his own Board of Inquiry.
Shortly after Commissioner Arthur Hull Hayes, Jr., approved the use of aspartame in carbonated beverages, he left for a position with G.D. Searle's Public Relations firm.
Long-Term Damage. It appears to cause slow, silent damage in those unfortunate enough to not have immediate reactions and a reason to avoid it. It may take one year, five years, 10 years, or 40 years, but it seems to cause some reversible and some irreversible changes in health over long-term use.
In February of 1994, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services released the listing of adverse reactions reported to the FDA (DHHS 1994). Aspartame accounted for more than 75% of all adverse reactions reported to the FDA's Adverse Reaction Monitoring System (ARMS). By the FDA's own admission fewer then one percent of those who have problems with something they consume ever report it to the FDA. This balloons the almost 10,000 complaints they once had to around a million.
The fact remains, though, that most victims don't have a clue that aspartame may be the cause of their many problems! Many reactions to aspartame were very serious including seizures and death.
Donald Rumsfeld (yes, that Donald Rumsfeld), In June 1977, he became Chief Executive Officer of G. D. Searle & Co., a worldwide pharmaceutical company, where he served until 1985. The turnaround there earned him awards as the Outstanding Chief Executive Officer in the Pharmaceutical Industry in 1980 and 1981.
He along with Robert Shapiro are solely responsible for using their political muscle and graft to buy off the FDA and get NutraSweet approved and are responsible for the death and disease caused.
new.documentary.
Sweet Misery
The toxic long-term effects of aspartame are often dismissed as a "hoax" by the sweetener industry and at least five other internet websites. The real footwork, however, unravels something less comforting than a mere "Hoax."
"Sweet Misery" is the working title of a documentary completed last June at Sound and Fury. Our primary investigation includes interviews with doctors, lawyers, people who have had health probems which they associate with aspartame usage, advocates, and many others.
"Aspartame is inherently, markedly and uniquely unstable in aqueous media" is a quote from the congressional record in 1985, and yet it was approved for use in soft drinks and other beverages.
So what happened?
----> RESOURCES <----
Organizations/Web Pages
Campaign for Food Safety
http://www.organicconsumers.org/gelink.html
Consumer Association dedicated to protecting food safety. Excellent information on genetically-manipulated foods and actions you can take. They also have a 4-page GE Factsflyer that you can download.
People's Earlth Network
http://www.peoplesearth.org/
Large and quickly-growing consumer organization managing a letter-writing campaign to encourage companies to eliminate GMO ingredients from their products. Campaign has had enormous success and is looking for others to get involved.
Mothers for Natural Law
http://www.safe-food.org/
"Mothers for Natural Law was founded in June 1996 to transform the overwhelming problems facing Americans into simple, practical action steps everyone can take to safeguard the future for us all. Our agenda originally embraced everything from the environment to crime, education, health and the economy. However, because of its extreme urgency, we have made genetic engineering our only focus, and put all of our other plans on hold." Impressive, easy-to-follow set of web pages including a detailed, How to Avoid Genetically Manipulated Food (How to Shop, What to Eat) web page.
Women Say NO to GMOs
http://www.organicsdirect.com/gm.html
"Like Paul McCartney and his family, we believe GMOs to be one of the most important issues we face in our lifetime. Should it go wrong, genetic engineering could have devastating consequences for our health and the environment. This is why as women we feel we have to make a stand TODAY." Petition signing. Press releases. How you can help section.
Physicians and Scientists for Responsible Application of Science and Technology
http://www.psrast.org/
Articles from the top scientists around the world. Scientists and Physicians are encouraged to become a member.
Genetic ID Inc.
http://www.genetic-id.com/
Testing Lab that offers "Non-GMO Certification" to all growers, processors, handlers and manufacturers of non-genetically modified food products. Also offers the industry's first dual certification: Farm Verified Organic plus Genetically Natural (TM)
Campaign to Ban Genetically Engineered Foods
http://www.natural-law.org/
An international organization which provides many useful articles and perhaps the most comprehensive News on genetically-manipulated food issues.
Ethical Investing
http://www.ethicalinvesting.com/
Dedicated to provided resources to help make responsible investment choices. Helpful for removing investments from mutual funds, retirement accounts, etc. which help support the genetic manipulation industry.
Greenpeace International
http://www.greenpeace.org/international/campaigns/genetic-engineering
Greenpeace has been effective in getting European and some U.S. manufacturers to remove genetically-manipulated food ingredients. They have a web site specific to genetically-manipulated foods. On the Greenpeace USA page, you can join the GE Action Network or sign up to receive action alerts.
True Food Campaign
Sponsored by Greenpeace, the True Food Campaign aims to ban GM food, phase-out industrial farming, and promote organic food. The website will tell you about the issues and how to get involved in the campaign - not just in terms of the food you buy, but through action to set a proper agricultural agenda.
Friends of the Earth (FoE) USA Safer Foods, Safer Farms Campaign
http://www.foe.org/safefood/
A federation of autonomous environmental organizations. Great place to get addresses of food companies to write and ask them to use organic ingredients to eliminate genetically-manipulated foods. FoE UK site has extensive information and action suggestions for those in the United Kingdom. International FoE site has links to FoE web pages around the world. You can join FoE as well.
UK Genetic Engineering Network
http://www.dmac.co.uk/gen.html
A network of most of the UK organizations working to eliminate genetically-manipulated crops. Network was set up to exchange information between groups. Sponsors an online discussion group and newsletter.
Devinder Sharma
http://www.dsharma.org/
Articles on Links Between Biotechnology, Trade and Food Security
Wild Oats Supermarket Chain
http://www.wildoats.com/u/home/
Excellent page on genetically-manipulated foods. Includes a easy-to-understand "Claims vs. Facts" section.
Norfolk Genetic Information Network (ngin)
http://members.tripod.com/~ngin/index.htm
Excellent United Kingdom-based site with UK and international news, articles, news releases and GM food guide (applicable to residents of the United Kingdom only). NGIN has a great links page that links to additional useful and fun web sites.
Rural Advancement Foundation International (RAFI)
http://www.etcgroup.org/
International organization dedicated to the conservation and sustainable improvement of agricultural biodiversity and to the socially responsible development of technologies useful to rural societies. RAFI was instrumental in getting Monsanto to distance themselves from their own deadly Terminator Technology.
Campaign to Label Genetically Engineered Foods
http://www.thecampaign.org/
"To create a national grassroots consumer campaign for the purpose of lobbying Congress and the President to pass legislation that will require the labeling of genetically engineered foods in the United States."
Natural Law Party
http://www.natural-law.org/
A growing political party that recognizes the hazards of genetically-manipulated foods and is willing to stand up for the people.
(The NLP State Chairperson for Tennessee is
Richard Sims
PO Box 3214
Chattanooga, TN 37404
423-698-1141
Email: dicksims@earthlink.net)
Genetix Snowball
http://www.fraw.org.uk/gs/
"A Campaign of Nonviolent Civil Responsibility." Publishes the handbook, "A Guide to Safely Removing Genetically Modified Plants From Release Sites in Britain." The Campaign section has articles, press releases, chronology of the campaign, GE Data Center, legal action Monsanto and others have brought against the campaigners, statements, photos, etc.
Alliance for Bio-Integrity
An alliance of scientists, consumer groups, environmental groups and religious groups "dedicated to the advancement of human and environmental health through sustainable and safe technologies." The alliance filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in May 1999.
Edmonds Institute
http://www.edmonds-institute.org/
The Institute is a non-profit, public interest organization committed to the health and sustainability of ecosystems and their inhabitants. The Edmonds Institute has published some groundbreaking scientific and policy-oriented publications including A Manual for Assessing Ecological and Human Health Effects of Genetically Engineered Organisms and A Brief History of Biotechnology Risk and Policy Debates in the US.
Third World Network: Biotechnology/Biosafety
http://www.twnside.org.sg/bio.htm
Articles written by experts from around the world relating to biotechnology and biosafety. International news updates.
Biotechcentury.com: A Project of the Foundation on Economic Trends
http://www.biotechcentury.org/
Jeremy Rifkin's organization that is helping to spearhead a multi-billion dollar antitrust lawsuit against companies involved in genetic manipulation of foods.
Australian Gene Ethics Network
http://www.zero.com.au/
Information on genetics ethics and genetically-manipulated foods (in the "Food" section).
Richard Wolfson, PhD
Articles, Information on Subscribing to Genetic Engineering News.
Mutanto Web Page
Spoof on Monsanto's Web Site. Instead of "Food, Health and Hope" Mutanto offers "Fraud, Stealth and Hype." Mutanto has it's own statement on genetically-manipulated foods.
Super Heros Against Genetix (S.H.A.G.)
http://www.envirolink.org/
U.K.-based group which takes action to alert people to the dangers of genetically-manipuated foods. Fun site. Has copies of a few Monsanto internal memos online.
Seize the Day
http://www.seizetheday.org/
Includes the MonSatan web site and a free song about Monsanto. Also has a good synopsis of Monsanto's history along the right-hand side of the page. Fun site.
Students for Alternatives to Genetic Engineering
http://www.sage-intl.org/