Dear Editor:

The NZFSA attempts to stumble the public by continuing to protect aspartame manufacturers. The word “scaremongering” is a familiar term used by manufacturers of aspartame (951/NutraSweet/Equal/etc.). This letter to an aspartame manufacturer years ago was in answer to their name calling. As late as this past year they refused to comment again. http://www.wnho.net/ajinomotoletter.htm

Propaganda has been repeated over two decades such as “there is more methanol in tomatoes or oranges than in aspartame.” It’s common knowledge that in fruits and vegetables methanol is bound to pectin and there is ethanol which is the antidote for methanol toxicity. http://www.dorway.com/monte84.html Ralph Walton, M.D., explains: “In fruit you have the antidote along with it. And also the methanol component is bound to something called pectin, in fruit. We humans don’t have the enzyme to split methanol off from pectin. So, in fruit it’s perfectly harmless, but that’s not the case in aspartame,”

NZFSA quotes their expert toxicologist, John Reeve, and this shows his lack of aspartame knowledge or his intent to coverup the toxicity, or both. He says, “People could be put off artificial sweeteners in favour of sugar, with its associated known contribution to obesity, diabetes and similar.” Aspartame can precipitate diabetes, simulates and aggravates diabetic retinopathy and neuropathy, destroys the optic nerve, causes diabetics to go into convulsions and interacts with insulin. This is completely discussed in the medical text, Aspartame Disease: An Ignored Epidemic by renowned diabetic specialist, H. J. Roberts, M.D. , FACP, FCCP.

About obesity, as documented in the Congressional Record: “Aspartame has been demonstrated to inhibit the carbohydrate-induced-synthesis of the neurotransmitter serotonin (Wurtman affidavit) Serotonin blunts the sensation of craving carbohydrates and thus is part of the body’s feedback system that helps limit consumption of carbohydrate to appropriate levels. Its inhibition by aspartame could lead to the anomalous result of a diet product causing increased consumption of carbohydrates.” 5/7/85, Senate 5511 Furthermore, a study at the University of Texas based on 8 years of data by Sharon Fowler linked diet drinks with obesity. H. J. Roberts, M.D., discusses in his medical text, “Obesity, Paradoxic Weight Gain” page 389, abstinence from aspartame generally effects a significant loss of undesired weight.

Dr. Sandra Cabot, Mission Possible Australia says in , Aspartame Makes You Fatter: “After having been consulted by thousands of overweight people suffering with problems concerning the liver and/or metabolism I can assure you that aspartame will not help you in any way, indeed it will help you to gain unwanted weight. This has been my experience, and there are logical reasons to explain the fattening and bloating effects of aspartame. When you ingest the toxic chemical aspartame it is absorbed from the intestines and passes immediately to the LIVER where it is taken inside the liver via the liver filter. The liver then breaks down or metabolizes aspartame to its toxic components – phenylalanine, aspartic acid and methanol. This process requires a lot of energy from the liver which means there will be less energy remaining in the liver cells. This means the liver cells will have less energy for fat burning and metabolism, which will result in fat storing. Excess fat may build up inside the liver cells causing “fatty liver” and when this starts to occur it is extremely difficult to lose weight. In my vast experience any time that you overload the liver you will increase the tendency to gain weight easily.

“Aspartame also causes weight gain by other mechanisms —Causes unstable blood sugar levels, which increases the appetite and causes cravings for sweets/sugar. Thus it is particularly toxic for those with diabetes or epilepsy. Causes fluid retention giving the body a puffy and bloated appearance.”

John Reeve says: “Furthermore, claims saying that aspartame leads to unsafe levels of formaldehyde in people are just ridiculous.” The Trocho Study, scientifically peer reviewed, shows the formaldehyde converted from free methyl alcohol actually embalms living tissue and damages DNA. http://www.mpwhi.com/formaldehyde_from_aspartame.pdf Dr. Roberts explains in his text “The highly reactive formaldehyde molecule becomes bound to proteins and nucleic acids, forming adducts. (These are little groupings of formaldehyde molecules that grow as more molecules become placed on top of existing ones. They are difficult to eliminate through the usual metabolic pathways.” page 674 “Investigators of the Trocho Study commented, ‘The cumulative effects derived from the incorporation of label in the chronic administration model suggests that regular intake of aspartame may result in the progressive accumulation of formaldehyde adducts.’ ”

“Pre-Embalming” in Aspartame Disease: An Ignored Epidemic by Roberts even has him admitting there are religious ramifications because Jewish law forbids embalming. Prompt burial is considered a sign of respect for the deceased. page 675 The point is obvious. I would ask John Reeve if he consider “do-it-yourself embalming” a safe level of formaldehyde?

Russell Blaylock, M.D., author of “Excitotoxins: The Taste That Kills” has commented that even small doses of formaldehyde are considered to be carcinogenic. In the Ramazzini Study in Italy in 2005 proving aspartame to be a multipotential carcinogen even the rats hair turned yellow from the formaldehyde. Dr. Blaylock on discussing the Trocho Study said: “The doses used were within those recommended by the FDA as ADI for humans. This is especially of concern in children who may consume doses of aspartame as high as 75 to 90mg/kg. It is also important to note in this study, the formaldehyde was accumulative as were its injury to cellular proteins and DNA. In the real life situation, humans are exposed to repeated doses of aspartame found in many foods, drinks, medicines and chewing gums.”

Reeve ends by saying that “New Zealanders can be assured that NZFSA takes its government mandated mission to protect human health seriously.” When you research the real facts against these statements by Reeve its obvious you can’t take “his words” seriously. The NZFSA needs to put the health of the citizens of NZ before defending the manufacturers of this poison and John Reeve needs to apologize for his propaganda statements. Furthermore, Dr. Andrew McKenzie of NZFSA still has not answered the last letter: http://www.mpwhi.com/challenge_to_dr_andrew_mckenzie.htm The continued refusal to answer the facts demonstrates a lack of concern for human health in NZ.

Betty Martini, D.Hum, Founder
Mission Possible International

www.mpwhi.com, www.dorway.com, www.wnho.net
Aspartame Toxicity Center, www.holisticmed.com/aspartame
Sweet Misery: A Poisoned World, www.holisticmed.com/aspartame

Wednesday, 22 August 2007, 10:56 am
Press Release: Betty Martini
With regard to this article: http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/SC0708/S00054.htm