LETTERS OF TESTIMONY TO THE HAWAII HOUSE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH CONCERNING ASPARTAME



From: Victor Brandt


07 February 2008

Please copy as committee handout for this hearing

Dear Honorable Rep. Josh Green, M..D. and Honorable John Mizuno, Vice Chair

My name is Victor Brandt. I am 49 years old and have lived and worked in Honolulu most of my life. First of all I applaud you for creating this bill and trust and hope that "good" will prevail. I believe you are about to create history in taking aspartame out of our foods. It will not only enhance the lives of those living on our islands but a statement like this will most definitely reverberate around the world in such a positive way that it will awaken the unassuming general public to understand that maybe it's aspartame in their diet that's making them sick. It will surely be significant. So please, stand strong in the face of the many lobbyist who will definitely be in your face to tell you there's no conclusive evidence. And remember, they're paid to say that!!

As for my story. It is quite simple and I feel lucky compared to many that I have met over the years, that like me, were mixed up with aspartame and experienced many of it 92 possible symptoms, a list, by the way, that the FDA actually created prior to it's 'underhanded" approval in the early 80's by a quick moving Donald Rumsfeld. (At the bottom of my testimonial is a Letter from Dr. Betty Martini addressed to one of the Editors in Honolulu several weeks ago...she eloquently tells the story of how this addictive excitoneurotoxic carcinogenic drug got approved...a very worthwhile read!)

My problems started in the early 90's. I was addicted to sugar, probably had been since I was born, but I was consuming way too much sugar in the form of chocolates, ice cream, cookies and soda. I didn't feel all that bad, but wanted to get off the up and down mood swings that I was experiencing, so on a New Year's resolution I drop sugar from my diet. Naturally I still had a sweet tooth and became attracted to everything "Sugar Free". I switched my diet and started consuming sugar free cookies, candies and chewed several packs of sugar free gum per day. Unsuspectingly I was consuming a lot of Aspartame. My health started going into a tail-spin and I had no idea why nor knew anything about aspartame at the time.

I made it through all of the 90's, but at times I would have preferred to die. I had developed very challenging health issues along the way including severe headaches, joint pain, fatigue, insomnia, heart palpitations, rashes, asthma, blurred vision and I even became so irritable at times with those around me that I felt like I was about to explode. All the doctors and health specialist I met said I was fine and they could find nothing wrong. I saw Western Doctors and had numerous test performs from food allergies to lost nerve sensation in my arms and legs. I then started to seek help from Naturopaths, Chiropractors, Acupuncturist, Massage Therapist, Colonic Therapist all to no avail. I also read numerous books on health and nutrition. I thought I tried just about everything and it was expensive!

However, it wasn't until I heard Dr. Betty Martini on a radio talk show that a light bulb went off. She talked for about a hour on the effects of Aspartame poisoning and I related to many of the symptoms she mentioned. She also talked about how it was wrongly approved and how the FDA actually denied approval on this product for many years before it was eventually approved.

From that day forward I stopped all the sugar free treats and became an avid reader of product labels. I read more books on the subject and found information on numerous websites. I started to shop wisely and buy only products that were made without aspartame or other artificial sweeteners or even artificial flavors. It's been well over 6 years since that light went off and I'm happy to say that my health has returned to about 90%. I continue to stay strong in my conviction and self discipline in avoiding aspartame and other artificial sweeteners as well as MSG but it's not easy, especially if you eat out a lot. It's hard to read labels at a restaurant.

Yesterday I was showing a client an older home in Kaimuki. It was close to being a 'tear-down' and as the listing broker walked us through the house, I couldn't help but notice all the clear plastic bags of yet to be recycled diet soda cans. My first thought was "whew, I bet that made someone sick." Then as we walked through the debris and into the back portion of the house, there were two middle-aged men that appeared to be sleeping. It was in the middle of the day so I asked the broker who they were and if they were alright. He said that they are cousins and he didn't think anything was wrong with them physically, but maybe mentally. I thought to myself that's what happens when you get hooked on aspartame. This stuff was a science experiment gone wrong and does not belong in the human body. If you use it long enough, it will destroy you. I will forever adamantly avoid this stuff and other artificial sweeteners as much as possible...as most of my friends and co-workers will attest.

Please ask your fellow representatives to stand tall against the money hunger manufacturers and their bought and paid for lobbyists who must not have no consciousness.

Very sincerely,

Victor Brandt