The case of Aspartame
Scott Waldyn
Issue date: 1/27/06 Section: News
For quite a number of years, researches have battled back and forth over the safety concerns of what can be considered one of the food industry's greater achievements or one of its greater curses. Speculation revolving around the health factors of artificial sweeteners has been argued quite fiercely. The FDA, along with a handful of other government-orientated organizations, support the use of such sweeteners in question. Yet, independent researches claim that these man-made products involving the use of one such specific sweetener, aspartame, damage and put at risk the lives of every day people.
With all this information presented by both sides, the real question comes to this: Who is right? If the FDA is correct, why would independent researchers want to fabricate such nonsense? What gain would they receive, if any? But if the FDA is wrong, then why would they so strongly support the active usage of aspartame? Is it for money? Is it to help increase the revenue of big companies involved with the FDA?
Only the test of time will reveal the truth about artificial sweeteners, but for the moment, it may be beneficial to understand and comprehend both sides of the argument.
The Pros of Aspartame
The original intention of aspartame, also popularly known as the name brands NutraSweet and Equal, was as a substitute for sugar to help consumers with weight loss. It came about in order to combat America's obsession and overindulgence with sugar, the cause of excessive weight problems, among other things.
The FDA (Food and Drug Administration) stands firmly behind its claim that, as the agency words it, "more than 100 toxicology and clinical studies" confirm the safety of aspartame for the public. David Hattan, director of the FDA's division of health effects evaluation, states that there isn't any "credible evidence" to negate aspartame. He agrees that websites with large, bold headlines attempt to link aspartame to a variety of problems ranging from systemic lupus and multiple sclerosis to vision problems, headaches, and Alzheimer's. Hattan also agrees that Internet reports are ridiculous when they state that patients suffering from multiple sclerosis or systemic lupus go into remission after halting the use of aspartame because "[b]oth of these disorders are subject to spontaneous remissions and exacerbation." Futhermore, he adds that "it is entirely possible that when patients stopped using aspartame they might also coincidentally have had remission of their symptoms."
With all this information presented by both sides, the real question comes to this: Who is right? If the FDA is correct, why would independent researchers want to fabricate such nonsense? What gain would they receive, if any? But if the FDA is wrong, then why would they so strongly support the active usage of aspartame? Is it for money? Is it to help increase the revenue of big companies involved with the FDA?
Only the test of time will reveal the truth about artificial sweeteners, but for the moment, it may be beneficial to understand and comprehend both sides of the argument.
The Pros of Aspartame
The original intention of aspartame, also popularly known as the name brands NutraSweet and Equal, was as a substitute for sugar to help consumers with weight loss. It came about in order to combat America's obsession and overindulgence with sugar, the cause of excessive weight problems, among other things.
The FDA (Food and Drug Administration) stands firmly behind its claim that, as the agency words it, "more than 100 toxicology and clinical studies" confirm the safety of aspartame for the public. David Hattan, director of the FDA's division of health effects evaluation, states that there isn't any "credible evidence" to negate aspartame. He agrees that websites with large, bold headlines attempt to link aspartame to a variety of problems ranging from systemic lupus and multiple sclerosis to vision problems, headaches, and Alzheimer's. Hattan also agrees that Internet reports are ridiculous when they state that patients suffering from multiple sclerosis or systemic lupus go into remission after halting the use of aspartame because "[b]oth of these disorders are subject to spontaneous remissions and exacerbation." Futhermore, he adds that "it is entirely possible that when patients stopped using aspartame they might also coincidentally have had remission of their symptoms."