Dallas - May 7, 2007

The International Alliance of Dietary Supplement-Food Associations [IADSA] vote at a Codex Committee on Food Additives meeting in Beijing last week, puts at risk the future well-being of every infant, child and adult on our planet, with their endorsement of artificial sweeteners aspartame and neotame.

IADSA is the voice of the worldwide dietary supplement manufacturing industry and an accredited international non-governmental organization (INGO) with a seat at the table of the main international regulatory bodies. IADSA has more than doubled in size since its creation in 1998, and now represents 58 national trade associations and over 9,500 member companies.

The vote to retain toxic food additives such as: aspartame; neotame and all the other substances that masquerade as 'safe and natural,' by an international non-governmental organization, is a chilling defeat for all who lobby tirelessly for a pure, safe, unadulterated food supply, say leaders of Aspartame Consumer Safety Network, a consumer awareness group based in the United States.

Incredibly, in the IADSA news release dated May 7, 2007, it is stated that aspartame's recommended allowance [RDA] has been increased 110 times that of the FDA's recommended daily allowance of 50 mg/kg. Even more incredible, is the fact that the FDA's original RDA for aspartame should have been only 20 mg/kg. By political maneuvering, the RDA was arbitrarily elevated to 50 mg/kg. Neotame, which is touted as being 13,000 times sweeter than sugar has been set at 90 mg/kg. What is the IASDA's scientific justification behind the decision to override the original RDA's by such a huge amount?

Indisputable evidence mounts with each passing new study that aspartame [and its recent namesake, Neotame] breaks down into methanol, formaldehyde and diketopiperazine, which can cause the following forms of cancers: brain cancer, breast cancer, pancreatic cancer, uterine cancer, leukemia, lymphoma and death. The aspartame molecule consists of: phenylalanine, which caused seizures in lab animals; aspartic acid, which caused holes in the brains of lab animals and methanol [10% by weight.] The Neotame molecule has all those plus the addition of [3]-dimethylbutyl, found on the Environmental Protection Agency's list of most hazardous chemicals in 1998. What gives the IADSA the right to ignore all the independent studies showing harm, when all the data point to erring on the side of caution with these genetically-modified molecules?

The additives will now be put forward to the Codex Alimentarius Commission for adoption in July. The Codex General Standard for Food Additives (GSFA) sets down conditions for permitted food additives to be used in all foods. It is regularly updated to include additional food additive provisions adopted by the Codex Alimentarius Commission.

The public can and must stop pollution of the world's food supply by a few manufacturers of chemical food additives like aspartame and neotame. We can write, call, fax, email our government policy makers and let them know this is not a policy we can accept. If this is done by consumers all over the world, governing bodies might act more responsibly. Change can come when each of us does our part to make it happen.

The following is the IADSN recent proposal concerning to retain additives in the food supply.

5/7/2007 - IADSA’s Action to Retain Additives Yields Positive Results International Alliance of Dietary Supplement-Food Associations (IADSA)

Efforts to retain nine additives at IADSA’s proposed levels in the Codex General Standard for Food Additives list bore fruit last week, with all being recommended for adoption.

Castor Oil, Polysorbates, Polyvinyl Alcohol, Acesulfame Potassium, Aspartame, Cyclamates, Neotame, Saccharin, Sucralose were endorsed at levels proposed by the International Alliance of Dietary/Food Supplement Associations (IADSA) during the Codex Committee on Food Additives meeting in Beijing last week.

IADSA’s proposed levels for the additives are: Castor Oil (1,000 mg/kg), Polysorbates (25,000 mg/kg), Polyvinyl Alcohol (45,000 mg/kg), Acesulfame Potassium (2,000 mg/kg), Aspartame (5,500 mg/kg), Cyclamates (1,250 mg/kg), Neotame (90 mg/kg), Saccharin (1,200 mg/kg), and Sucralose (2,400 mg/kg). An additional 13 additives including the sweetener aspartame-acesulfame salt and colours are due to be considered for inclusion next year.

Independent studies within the past decade, show aspartame is not a safe food additive:

Trocho C, Pardo R, Rafecas I, Virgili J, Remesar X,
Fernandez-Lopez JA, Alemany M
Formaldehyde Derived From Dietary Aspartame Binds to Tissue Components
Vivo. Life Sci 1998 Jun 26; 63(5): 337-49.
Departament de Bioquimica i Biologia Molecular, Facultat de Biologia,
Universitat de Barcelona, Spain.
Vivo. 2007 Jan-Feb;21(1):89-92.

The Effect of Aspartame Administration On Oncogene and Suppressor Gene Expressions.
Gombos K, Varjas T, Orsos Z, Polyak E, Peredi J, Varga Z, Nowrasteh G,
Tettinger A, Mucsi G, Ember I.
Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Public Health University of Pecs, Hungary.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi? db=pubmed&cmd=Retrieve&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=17354619&query_hl=2&i tool=pubmed_DocSum

BACKGROUND:

Aspartame (L-phenylalanineN-L-alpha-aspartyl-1-methyl ester) is an artificial sweetener withwidespread applications. Previously published results have shown thatamong rats receiving aspartame a significant increase oflymphoreticular neoplasms, brain tumours and transitional cell tumoursoccurred. The aim of our short-term experiment was to investigate thebiological effect of aspartame consumption by determining theexpressions of key oncogenes and a tumour suppressor gene.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

After one week per os administration of various doses ofaspartame to CBA/CA female mice, p53, c-myc, Ha-ras gene expression alterations were determined in individual organs.

RESULTS:

The results showed an increase in gene expressions concerning all the investigatedgenes especially in organs with a high proliferation rate:lymphoreticular organs, bone-marrow and kidney.

CONCLUSION: Aspartame has a biological effect even at the recommended daily maximum dose.

About Mary Nash Stoddard: Founder of Aspartame Consumer Safety Network:

Mary co-founded the massive international anti-aspartame movement in the mid 1980's, following the brain tumor death of her forty two year old husband, Mike.

In 1985, Ms. Stoddard suffered a life threatening aspartame-related blood disorder, whereupon, The NutraSweet Co. offered her an all-expense paid vacation for two anywhere in the world, if she would agree to be tested by their doctors. She declined, with the blessing of her doctor, and the rest is history. She has conducted multi-national lecture tours and is a popular visiting professor at colleges, universities and medical schools.

Stoddard's efforts over the past nearly two decades has led to the present rejection of the sweetener by many of the food and beverage giants of industry. These companies rush to distance themselves from the liabilities associated with use of a neuro-toxic substance in their products. She has testified in court as an Expert Medical Witness and like her famous counterpart, Erin Brockovitch, has helped with a number of lawsuits on behalf of consumers. Her powerful message has reached millions around the world through the airwaves on radio and television, in print and personal appearances.

Mary is also a Food Safety Consultant, Author and Wellness Coach and in her book shared How Eating Real Food, Not Artificial Food Will Help You Win in All Areas of Your Life. In addition to being a News Anchor and Talk Show Host, Mary Nash Stoddard has been featured by media entities on six continents for over two decades.

This high-profile consumer advocate earned international recognition through public appearances and media interviews as a pioneer of the burgeoning aspartame awareness campaign. Her multi-national lecture tours garner international media attention and standing ovations. Audiences learn proactive strategies for being part of the solution, instead of helpless victims. "Deadly Deception" Story of Aspartame, Stoddard's toxicology sourcebook is endorsed by doctors, scientists, talk show hosts/producers and health care workers - including diet guru, Dr. Robert Atkins during his interview in 1992 with Stoddard. Her message: "Eat real food," not artificial food. The companion one hour "Deadly Deception" video is further documentation - taped at a prestigious scientific conference. You can purchase both, as well as audio tapes and CD's at Stoddard's website.

Make sure you watch Stoddard's TODAY THE WORLD IS WATCHING: on YOU TUBE. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ELgW4KBY-o4

Stoddard worked for over four months, in 1999, with producer, Saundra Young of FOX TV- CH 5, Washington D.C., to pull this story together. Stoddard was FOX's resource for aspartame info, doctors and victims. FOX interviewed Stoddard's ACSN's contacts. James Turner, Esq. and Stoddard were interviewed, after their historic meeting with top FDA officials. This is a must watch video!

Mary Nash Stoddard, Founder
Aspartame Consumer Safety Network and Pilot Hotline
[Promoting FDA Recall of Aspartame - since 1987]
P.O. Box 2001 - Frisco, TX 75034 - U.S.
phone: 1-214-387-4001
email: marystod@airmail.net