Is This More-Dangerous-than-Aspartame Sweetener Hiding in Your Food?
Is This More-Dangerous-than-Aspartame Sweetener Hiding in Your Food?
By Dr. Mercola
One of the more recent toxic additions to our food supply is the artificial sweetener called Neotamei.
In the European Union, where it was approved as a flavor enhancer as of November 2010, it is known by its “E number,” E961ii.
Made by NutraSweet (a former division of Monsanto and the original
manufacturer of aspartame), neotame is 13,000 times sweeter than table
sugar, and about 30 times sweeter than aspartame.
It’s based on the aspartame formula—despite the fact that 80 percent
of all FDA complaints pertain to adverse reactions from aspartame.
Neotame is essentially aspartame plus 3,3-dimethylbutyliii--the
presence of which ends up reducing the production of phenylalanine,
which allegedly makes it safe for those suffering from phenylketonuria
(PKU).
(Hence neotame does not need to bear a PKU warning label like aspartame.)
Unfortunately, it may actually be an even more potent and dangerous neurotoxin, immunotoxin and excitotoxin than aspartame.
Proponents of neotame claim that increased toxicity is of no concern
because less of it is needed to achieve the desired effect.
Still, Monsanto's own pre-approval studies of neotame revealed
adverse reactions, and there were no independent studies that found
neotame to be safe.
On August 16, 2000, the law firm of Hartman & Craven filed
comments on the neotame docket pertaining to the lack of safety data
submitted in support of neotameiv, stating in part:
“A food additive petition has been submitted to the FDA for the
artificial sweetener neotame. In that petition, the sponsor claims the
data presented demonstrate that the compound produces no adverse effects
at a dose of 1000 mg/kg/day in the rat. The sponsor also claims that
the product should be safe for patients with diabetes. A review of the
data submitted to the FDA does not support these conclusions.
In fact, no safe human usage level can be determined based on the
submitted data. The animal experimental evidence indicates a toxic
effect on growth. The clinical evidence raises concerns about glucose
control in patients with diabetes.
Searches for an explanation resolving the adverse findings leave
no clear acceptable answers that would insure the safety of the public
but does stimulate speculation on questions relating to possible liver
effects.”
Is Neotame Allowed in Organics?
While some writers have made the claim that neotame is allowed in organic foods, there does not appear
to be any supporting evidence for this. Ditto for the rumor that it
doesn’t have to be listed on the label. For example, according to a
recent article on Sott.netv:
“Neotame was approved by the FDA for general use in July 2002 ...
The FDA loosened all labeling requirements for Neotame as part of a
large-scale effort to make it a near-ubiquitous artificial sweetener, to
be found on the tabletop, in all prepared foods, even in organics. It
simply does not have to be included in the ingredient list.”
The Cornucopia Institute wrote a rebuttal to this internet rumor last year, statingvi:
“Organic foods cannot contain synthetic additives, unless these
additives have been petitioned and approved to appear on the National
List of Approved and Prohibited Substances (7 CFR 205.605). Emily Brown
Rosen, Standards Specialist at the USDA’s National Organic Program,
writes about neotame: “For organic food, all additives must appear on
the National List.” Neotame has never been petitioned or approved for
inclusion on the National List, and therefore cannot legally be added to
organic foods.
We see no evidence, and see no reason to suspect, that any
organic certifying agents would allow organic food manufacturers to
violate the federal standards by adding this synthetic sweetener.
Moreover, as a direct food additive, neotame must be listed on
the ingredients label, contrary to suggestions that this could be added
to food in a stealth-like manner (21 CFR 101.100). We have not seen any
evidence to suggest that neotame is being added covertly to organic
foods. Not only would organic manufacturers be breaking the law by
adding this synthetic sweetener to organic foods, they would also be
breaking the law by not including Neotame on the ingredient label.”
Why is Neotame Dangerous?
That said, my recommendation for neotame is similar to that for aspartame, which is: avoid it at all costs if you care about your health.
Neotame is like aspartame on steroids, so while you want to avoid both,
neotame appears to be more toxic. One way of avoiding all artificial
sweeteners is to purchase foods bearing the USDA 100% Organic label. I
don’t believe there’s any reason to suspect organic foods will contain
neotame.
I’ve previously expounded on the many health dangers of aspartame,
and all of those dangers apply equally to neotame. But as if aspartame
wasn't bad enough, NutraSweet “improved" the aspartame formula by adding
3,3-dimethylbutyraldehyde, which blocks enzymes that break the peptide
bond between aspartic acid and phenylalanine, thereby reducing the
availability of phenylalanine. This eliminates the need for a warning on
labels directed at people who cannot properly metabolize phenylalanine.
Neotame is also more stable at higher temperatures than aspartame, so
it’s approved for use in a wider array of food products, including
baked goods.
However, one of the byproducts your body creates by breaking down
aspartame is formaldehyde, which is extremely toxic to your health even
in very small dosesvii.
Furthermore, in a search of PubMed.gov, the U.S. National Library of
Medicine, which has over 11 million medical citations, neotame fails to
include any double-blind scientific studies on toxicity in humans or
animals. If neotame was indeed completely safe to ingest, you would
think the NutraSweet Company would have published at least one
double-blind safety study in the public domain?
Well, they haven't... Why not?
In and of itself, 3,3-dimethylbutyraldehyde is categorized as both
highly flammable and an irritant, and carries risk statements for
handling including irritating to skin, eyes and respiratory systemviii. Does this sound like something that belongs inside your body?
How Did these Chemicals Get Approved for Human Consumption?
Today, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) could rightfully be
accused of being a “subsidiary" of the Monsanto Company. When you
realize just how many Monsanto executives and employees who have
migrated into positions of power within the FDA and other government
agencies, a truly disturbing picture emerges of the foxes guarding the henhouse.
The FDA is packed by pro-business, pro-corporation advocates who
often have massive conflicts of interest when it comes to protecting the
health of the public. In fact, the revolving door between private
industry and government oversight agencies is so well established these
days, it has become business as usual to read about scandal, conflicts
of interest and blatant pro-industry bias, even when it flies in the
face of science or the law.
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