LETTER TO THE EDITOR OF SCOOP NEWS IN NEW ZEALAND - DIET DRINKS AFFECT YOUNG BRAINS


Dr. Betty Martini, D.Hum.
Mission Possible World Health International
9270 River Club Parkway
Duluth, Georgia 30097
Telephone: 770-242-2599
E-Mail: BettyM19@mindspring.com



Posted: 24 July 2008


From: Dr. Betty Martini, D.Hum., Bettym19@mindspring.com
To: editor-scoop.co.nz
Date: Wed, Jul 23, 2008 1:42 pm
Subject: Diet Drinks Affect Young Brains


Dear Editor-Scoop:

Indeed young brains are affected by aspartame. A study at the University of Norway (Elisabeth Haetle og Arnstein Eltervaag, Hovedonngave 2001) showed aspartame destroys the brain. The purpose of this study was to see whether aspartame was harmful to brain cells (cerebellar granule cells). They wanted to check if the damage to the neurons are connected to the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors on these cells. The results showed damage/cell death from an added quantity of 0,06 mg/ml aspartame each day for 4 days. As a comparison there is 0,24 mg/ml aspartame in Cola light MTT - and tests showed damage to the neurons at an added quantity of 1.5 and 3.00 mg/ml aspartame after 22 hours of incubation. The results also show that aspartame is in part acting through the NMDA receptor because AP5 reduced or blacked the damage to the granule cells.

Their conclusion was a warning against the use of aspartame as a food additive, especially in products consumed by children because NMDA-receptors and the synapses involved also are connected to learning.

It was known before aspartame was approved that it could destroy the brains of our children. Dr. John Olney, who founded the field of neuroscience called excitotoxicity, gave this report to the Board of Inquiry of the FDA: http://www.wnho.net/dr_olney1.doc He knew it would cause birth defects and mental retardation. The Board of the Inquiry of the FDA agreed with Dr. John Olney and revoked the petition for approval. Don Rumsfeld was CEO of Searle at the time and said he would call in his markers and get it approved anyway. His political chancery in getting this deadly chemical poison marketed is legend and discussed in the aspartame documentary: Sweet Misery: A Poisoned World, http://www.soundandfury.tv Here is the clip that discusses what he did: http://www.soundandfury.tv/pages/rumsfeld2.html Because of the fraud involved Dr. Olney had Searle do studies in his lab. Originally the FDA had asked for the indictment of Searle but both US Prosecutors hired on with the defense team and the statute of limitations expired. Studies in Dr. Olney's lab mentioned in this film showed brain damage. However, Searle did not submit the results to the FDA.

FDA of the US has always known aspartame is a deadly deadly poison. At one time the FDA tried to protect the public and did everything they could to stop approval. Today they have given their loyalty to the manufacturers so when they say aspartame is safe, it is with full knowledge that it isn't safe. They are guilty of the same crime, Title 18, Section 1001, that they used to try and get the manufacturer indicted.

Here is the Report For Schools, several articles, written by aspartame experts warning that aspartame destroys the brains of our children. http://www.mpwhi.com/report_on_aspartame_and_children.htm

The New Zealand Food Safety Authority has been sent enough information to know aspartame is deadly. In fact, when I was in New Zealand they refused my entrance to a "consumer" meeting because they didn't want more damning information to contend with. Much was sent by email. Their loyalty has been given to aspartame manufacturers and the material they put out is standard aspartame propaganda.

There are medical texts on the subject which include the damage to the unborn and children:

Aspartame Disease: An Ignored Epidemic, http://www.sunsentpress.com by H. J. Roberts, M.D. (also Mommylinks, CD)

Excitotoxins: The Taste That Kills, http://www.russellblaylockmd.com by Russell Blaylock, M.D. (also Nutrition and Behavior, DVD)

After a quarter of a century on the market there is so much damning information against aspartame that it has stayed controversial in the press all this time. As Dr. Ralph Walton brought out in research for 60 Minutes 92% of independent scientific peer reviewed studies show the problems aspartame causes. http://www.dorway.com/peerrev.html Continued independent research since l996 is even more damning, also showing aspartame to be a multipotential carcinogen and passed on to the child through the mother.

The ADI was set for the lifetime of rats. FDA toxicologist, Dr. Adrian Gross, told Congress that the FDA should not have been able to set an allowable daily intake because aspartame causes cancer.

On August 1, l985 the FDA's own toxicologist, Dr. Adrian Gross, told Congress at least one of Searle's studies "has established beyond ANY REASONABLE DOUBT that aspartame is capable of inducing brain tumors in experimental animals and that this predisposition of it is of extremely high significance. ... In view of these indications that the cancer causing potential of aspartame is a matter that had been established WAY BEYOND ANY REASONABLE DOUBT, one can ask: What is the reason for the apparent refusal by the FDA to invoke for this food additive the so-called Delaney Amendment to the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act?"

The Delaney Amendment makes it illegal to allow any residues of cancer causing chemicals in foods. In his concluding testimony Gross asked, "Given the cancer causing potential of aspartame how would the FDA justify its position that it views a certain amount of aspartame as constituting an allowable daily intake or 'safe' level of it? Is that position in effect not equivalent to setting a 'tolerance' for this food additive and thus a violation of that law? And if the FDA itself elects to violate the law, who is left to protect the health of the public?" Congressional Record SID835:131 (August 1, l985)

So aspartame is only on the market because the FDA violated the law. President Reagan the day after he took office appointed Dr. Arthur Hull Hayes to do the deadly deed of over-ruling the Board of Inquiry and appointed him as FDA Commissioner. Then he wrote an executive making the FDA powerless to do anything about aspartame, like sign the Board of Inquiry Report that revoked the petition for approval, until he get Hayes there about 30 days later. Don Rumsfeld was on Reagan's transition team and felt Reagan owed him a favor because he said he was going to nominate him as Vice President and instead nominated Bush. Reagan paid his debt to Rumsfeld and people all over the world are sick and dying because of it. Hayes over-ruled the Board of Inquiry and then went to work for the PR Agency of the manufacturer at $1000.00 a day on a ten year contract. Quite a reward.

Abby Cormack who went public last year when she almost died from aspartame in Wrigleys gum, and the New Zealand team have done an incredible job in getting word to the public. Aspartame should immediately be banned from New Zealand. The New Zealand people should not have to pay for the political chicanery of Don Rumsfeld who brought disability and death on the world from this poison. Aspartame Disease today is often called Rumsfeld's Plague. Because the FDA has not banned it, today aspartame is even in the drugs used to treat the problemsRumsfeld's plague causes. http://www.mpwhi.com/epilepsy_study_incriminates_aspartame.htm It has become one of the most heinous ignored plagues in world history now in 100 countries of the world.

Here is "Dying For A Diet Coke" by Chris Wheeler, Mission Possible New Zealand regarding the lecture tour last summer: http://www.rense.com/general78/dying.htm

Dr. Betty Martini, D.Hum.
Founder, Mission Possible World Health International
9270 River Club Parkway
Duluth, Georgia 30097
770-242-2599
E-Mail: BettyM19@mindspring.com
http://www.wpwhi.com
http://www.whno.net
http://www.dorway.com

Aspartame Toxicity Center: http://www.holisticmed.com/aspartame


Diet Drinks Affect Young Brains http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/SC0807/S00057.htm

Wednesday, 23 July 2008, 4:15 pm
Press Release: Safe Food Campaign

Diet drinks affect young brains

Learning and memory may be affected if young people have diet drinks containing the artificial sweetener aspartame, according to a US paediatrician who is presenting evidence today by telelink to the Health Committee at 10am. Mothers are also concerned about New Zealand schools which are now stocking artificially sweetened drinks instead of sugar soft drinks.

The Committee is hearing submissions on aspartame as a result of a petition which calls for the removal of all products containing aspartame and other artificial sweeteners from schools, as well as warning labels on products to alert pregnant women and mothers of young children.

"We are presenting this submission on behalf of over 8,000 people from throughout New Zealand, and especially for all those who have become aware that their symptoms of ill health are due to consuming products with aspartame," stated Alison White, Co-convenor of the Safe Food Campaign. "The artificial sweetener is the most controversial and complained about additive in history. You only have to google it to see that. It is significant that non-industry funded studies have found various adverse health effects from aspartame, whereas industry-funded studies do not find problems. We cannot underestimate the power and sophistication of industry to maintain and expand its profit and market share, regardless of the health consequences of exposure to this substance."

"The manifestations of aspartame disease in young children are myriad," reported Dr Kenneth Stoller, MD. "These may range from severe headaches, unexplained visual loss, to depression, antisocial behaviour and seizures. Aspartame is not just a food additive. The components in it are isolated in a way that does not occur in nature. It is a neurotoxic drug, causing the deterioration of brain cells."

Mother of a school student, Mary Byrne, is concerned that the Hutt Valley school her daughter attends now stocks artificially sweetened drinks. "I think it's a good thing they're getting rid of sugar soft drinks from schools, but I don't think it's good they're replacing them with artificially sweetened drinks," said Ms Byrne. "I'm pleased that a teacher at the school my daughter is attending is going to show a video on aspartame to the students. This gives students more information about the dangers of aspartame, so they are motivated to avoid it."

Aspartame is being used in an increasing number of products, an estimated 6000 products worldwide, not just those labelled 'diet' and 'sugar free' but also in chewing gum, sports drinks, dietary supplements and medications. Sometimes the only warning is 'contains phenylalanine'. An estimated one in 15 people consume aspartame around the world.

"We are alarmed that exposure of young people in New Zealand to aspartame is probably increasing," said Ms White. "Young children especially are at risk of developing an allergy to formaldehyde from aspartame products. Parents and doctors need to be alerted to the problem." The submission presented to the Health Committee includes the stories of three people who have become aware that their health problems were caused by aspartame.

The petition requests specifically:

  1. Warning labels on all products containing aspartame to increase awareness of symptoms associated with aspartame toxicity, particularly to alert pregnant women and mothers of small children.

  2. A public education programme to raise awareness about adverse reactions to aspartame.

  3. A programme to raise awareness within the medical profession of the symptoms associated with aspartame toxicity, to prevent incorrect diagnosis of conditions that may be related to aspartame toxicity.

  4. Removal of all products containing aspartame and other artificial sweeteners from schools to reduce toxic effects on young people, thus reducing any behavioural and psychological problems that may result from these effects.