-Caveat Lector-
It must be wonderful to work for Monsanto (the great Satan), and to be well-
paid for selling your soul. --SW
Misinformation From
Team NutraSweet (Monsanto)
About Methanol
In Aspartame
Question from Steve Henwood to Monsanto:
11-10-99
Question from Steve Henwood to Monsanto:
Dear Jeff,
You inspired me to write to Monsanto about Nutrasweet, and
I thought you'd be interested in their response. They are
claiming that methanol occurs naturally in many foods and
so is, therefore, not a problem. Can that be true? I was not
aware that methanol, which as you know, is wood alcohol,
occurs in food. Are they misinformed? Here is their
response:
(We forwarded the Monsanto Response to Betty Martini of
'Mission Possible' at www.dorway.com)
From Betty Martini <[EMAIL PROTECTED]
11-9-99
Dear Jeff: Thank you for sending me this post from Steve
Henwood and his note from the NutraSweet team regarding
the methanol in aspartame. We are use to Monsanto's
misinformation, and I'm delighted to give you the real facts.
Nutrasweet's response to Steve Henwood's question:
In a message dated 11/3/99 9:32:52 AM,
[EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:
"Aspartame is composed of two amino acids, aspartic acid
and the methyl ester of phenylalanine. It is completely and
quickly metabolized to its two amino acids (aspartic acid and
phenylalanine) and methanol through normal pathways. The
body treats aspartame the same way it handles other foods,
such as bananas, milk and hamburgers. The methanol is
identical to that which we consume in much larger
concentrations in fruits, vegetables and their juices, for
instance. It is part of the normal diet. The amount of
methanol produced is approximately 10% by weight. The
body then converts methanol to formaldehyde and then to a
metabolite called formate. Formate is then quickly eliminated
by the body in the form of carbon dioxide and water.
"The amounts produced in metabolism are small, and are no
greater than the methanol produced by the metabolism of
many fruits and vegetables. For comparison's sake the
amount of methanol resulting from drinking a 12 ounce can
of soda sweetened with aspartame is less than obtained
from drinking an 8 ounce glass of grape juice.
Diet Soda 60 mg. methanol/liter Fruit Juice 140 mg.
methanol/liter
"We will also send additional information of which you can
choose the studies listed in the reference section that would
be of help."..
(signed) Team NutraSweet (Monsanto)
Betty Martini's comments:
Now for the real facts: This is incomplete and inaccurate
information. Real world aspartame containing products
contain more than just methanol, aspartic acid and
phenylalanine. These products also contain breakdown
products of aspartame such as beta-aspartame (Lawrence
l987, Stamp l989b) and aspartylphenylalanine
diketopiperazine (DKP) (Tsang l985).
Because the amino acids are not bound in proteins, they are
absorbed quickly and spike the plasma aspartic acid and
phenylalanine to high levels. Even the industry researchers
admit that these amino acids are metabolized differently than
those found in foods (Stegink l987a, Stegink l987b).
Methanol is found in *available form" in much greater
quantities in aspartame than in real foods (Monte l984).
Methanol taken orally is extremely toxic to humans. Even
though a small amount is found in the body, as little as a can
of diet soda can spike the plasma methanol levels
significantly (Davoli l986).
Davoli, E., et al.., l986. "Serum Methanol Concentrations in
Rats and in Men After a Single Dose of Aspartame." Food
and Chemical Toxicology, Volume 24, No. 3, page 187-189.
Lawrence, J. F., J. R. Iyengar, l987. "Liquid
Chromatographic Determination of Beta-Aspartame in Diet
Soft Drinks, Beverage Powders and Pudding Mixes," Journal
of Chromatography, Volume 404, page 261-266.
Monte, Woodrow C. l984. "Aspartame: Methanol and the
Public Health," Journal of Applied Nutrition, Volume 36, NO.
1, page 42-54.
Stamp, Jeffrey A. Theodore P. Labuza, l989a. "An Ion-Pair
High Performance Liquid Chromatographic Method for the
Determination of Aspartame and its Decomposition
Products," Journal of Food Science, volume 54, NO. 4, pg.
1043-1046.
Stegink, Lewis D., et al. l987a "Plasma Amino Acid
Concentrations in Normal Adults Administered Aspartame in
Capsules or solution: Lack of Bioequivalence," Metabolism,
Volume 36, NO. 5, page 507-512.
Stegink, Lewis D., et al., l987b. "Plasma Amino Acid
Concentrations in Normal Adults Ingesting Aspartame and
Monosodium L-Glutamate as Part of a Soup/Beverage
Meal," Metabolism, Volume 36, No. 11, page 1073-1079.
Tsang, Wing-Sum, et al., l985. "Determination of Aspartame
and Its Breakdown Products in Soft Drinks by
Reverse-Phase Chromatography with UV Detection."
Journal Agriculture and Food Chemistry, Vol 33, No. 4, page
734-738
Because of Steve's interest in the methanol in aspartame, I
would suggest reading Dr. Monte's excellent journal article in
full and you will find this at
http://www.dorway.com/nomarkle.html You might want to
append it to this information for posting as we have Dr.
Monte's permission.
Anyone calling the FDA (who parrot's Monsanto
misinformation in the IFIC brochure they send out) or
Monsanto continually get this brainwashing "there is more
methanol in fruit juice than in aspartame". As brought out in
Dr. Monte's journal article on methanol on page 1:
"Ethanol, the classic antidote for methanol toxicity, is found
in natural food sources of methanol at concentrations 5 to
500,000 times that of the toxin. Ethanol inhibits metabolism
of methanol and allows the body time for clearance of the
toxin through the lungs and kidneys."
There is no ethanol in aspartame! To really understand the
seriousness of the methanol in aspartame I will quote from
Dr. H. J. Roberts book ASPARTAME (NUTRASWEET) IS IT
SAFE? He says:
"Methanol is synonymous with wood alcohol, a deadly
poison even when consumed in relatively modest amounts.
Even in lesser quantities, methanol is potentially dangerous
because the body is unable to detoxify it (unlike the ethyl
alcohol found in whiskey, beer and wine, which is readily
detoxified and excreted from the body). Methanol can cause
serious tissue damage- especially blindness - and even
death. Rarely found in nature as its "free" form, methyl
alcohol is usually derived or produced from other
substances. It made headlines when 25 persons in Italy died
after drinking table wine containing 5.7 per cent methanol. In
one series of patients with methyl alcohol poisoning (Bennett
l952) the lowest fatal dose was three teaspoons of 40%
methanol.
As a known poison, it is logical to consider the possible role
of methyl alcohol in reactions to aspartame containing
products. This applies especially to eye and
neuropsychiatric complaints. Taking aspartame into the body
yields approximately ten percent methanol by weight
(Federal Register February 22, l984 pp 6672-6682). The
actual methanol composition of the aspartame molecules is
32/394 or 10.0%. The following approximations are provided
for comparative purposes.
* 19 gm aspartame, the equivalent of one teaspoon sugar
yields 1.9 gm methanol. * One liter of most aspartame
sweetened soft drinks contain about 55 mg. methanol. *
Methanol concentrations in aspartame-sweetened
beverages increase with heating and during prolonged
storage. * The amount of methanol ingested by heavy
consumers of aspartame products could readily exceed 250
mg. daily (Monte l984). This is 32 times the limit of
consumption recommended by the Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA). * Abuse doses (100 mg. aspartame/kg body
weight, or more) results in significant elevations of blood
methanol concentrations in normal subjects (Stegink l984).
Moreover, the level remains detectable for eight or more
hours. * Monte (l984) calculated that one-hundredth the fatal
level (a standard criterion for safety used by the FDA)
translates into only two 12 ounce cans.
Methyl alcohol appears to be the first component of
aspartame released within the upper small intestine. Its
absorption is rapid. Man is highly vulnerable to methanol
toxicity because of the absence of two enzymes required to
metabolize it (Roe l982). Its rate of oxidation (or breakdown)
is only one-seventh that of customary ethyl alcohol (ethanol).
The body attempts to detoxify methanol by oxidizing it to
formaldehyde, then to formate or formic acid, and ultimately
to carbon dioxide which is blown off in the breath. Formate
itself may contribute to toxicity - most notably as metabolic
acidosis and eye damage.
The rate of methanol elimination in humans is five times
slower than for a similar amount of ethyl alcohol (Forney
l968). Accordingly, the daily ingestion of "individually
innocuous amounts of methyl alcohol" could result in
eventual poisonous effects."
Methanol interacts with other drugs. Used together, the
interactions between methanol and chemical compounds
related to ethyl alcohol might have clinical significance
(Posner l975). These could include the oral (sulfonylurea)
drugs used in treating diabetic patients, metronidazole (an
anti-bacterial agent) and allopurinol (a standard drug used
for managing out). The consumption of methyl alcohol in the
form of aspartame products theoretically may harm alcoholic
patients being maintained on disulfiram. Antabuse, the trade
name drug, is currently being taken by an estimated 400,000
persons in the US while at least as many use less expensive
generic brands.
Methanol and formaldehyde concentrations could rise in
patients receiving maintenance disulfiram who are excessive
consumers of aspartame products due to (1) a further
slowing of methyl alcohol degradation, and (2) inhibition of
the enzyme aldehyde dehydrogenase.
*Koivusalo (l958) reported that the rate of methanol
elimination in rabbits was considerably delayed by
disulfiram. Methanol was still detectable in the blood 100
hours after the smallest administered dose. *Way and
Hausman (l950) noted more rapid toxicity from oral methanol
in rats and rabbits after prior disulfiram administration.
The symptoms and signs of methanol toxicity in man are
diverse. Dr. Woodrow Monte (l984), Director of the Food
Science and Nutrition Laboratory at Arizona State University,
reviewed the methyl alcohol syndrome. Its symptoms and
sign need not correlate with blood concentration of
methanol.
The disorders caused by methyl alcohol are listed below
because of their possible relevance to complaints
encountered among certain reactors to aspartame products.
Of course, the concept of methanol as a "cumulative poison"
have been denied or criticized by representatives of the
manufacturer (Sturtevant l985).
Eye Damage: Blindness caused by methanol has been
attributed to the toxic, effects of its breakdown products,
formaldehyde and/or formic acid on retinal cells. Methanol
produces swelling of the optic disc (Hayreh 1977) and
degeneration of retinal ganglion cells (Baumbach l977) in
monkeys.
Brain Involvement:
CT scans of the brain in patients with methanol poisoning
have revealed areas of presumed local death or infarction
(McLean l980). Swartz l981). Accordingly, a review of some
observations concerning brain swelling (edema), slowing of
blood in its vessels (vascular stasis) and altered cerebral
function after experimental methanol exposure is germane.
* A marked reduction of both cerebral blood flow and
cerebral oxygen consumption has been documented during
methanol poisoning. * Brain swelling occurs in both humans
and experimental animals (Menne 1938, Bennett l953,
Erlanson l965, Rao l977). * Significant alterations of brain
water, sodium and potassium with concomitant vascular
stasis, are found after methanol administration - both acute
and chronic - in male rabbits and monkeys (Rao l977).
Furthermore, the progressive rise of blood methanol levels
after the third week suggests partial inhibition of methanol
degradation. * Survivors of severe methanol intoxication
have developed Parkinsonism, dementia and other
neurologic abnormalities ... as well as blindness. (McLean
l980).
Involvement of the Peripheral Nerves (Neuropathy)
Neuropathic symptoms from methanol include numbness
"pins and needles" sensations (paresthesias), and shooting
pains. They are particularly evident after chronic exposure to
methanol.
Inflammation of the pancreas (Pancreatitis).
Pancreatitis has been reported in methanol poisoning
(Bennett l952). Pancreatitis may have produced the severe
abdominal pain in some aspartame reactors in the present
series. (patients seen by Dr. Roberts).
Inflammation of the Heart Muscle (Cardiomyopathy).
Cardiac changes have been found in patients with methanol
poisoning. The relatively frequent complaints of palpitations,
rapid heart action and atypical chest pain among aspartame
reactors may be pertinent.
Metabolic Acidosis:
Methanol characteristically causes metabolic acidosis. In this
severe biochemical state, excessive acids in the body can
result in respiratory failure and death. (diabetic acidosis is
another type of metabolic acidosis).
Clinical acidosis might be induced after large amounts of
aspartame are ingested, especially by children. Dr. Roberts
talks about a London physician who wrote him about his 9
year old daughter who had been given aspartame containing
cola for recurrent abdominal pain.
"....in all, she probably drank about 1.5 liters over a 24
hour
period together with eating a few slices of toast in the same
24 hours. The following morning she was found
semi-conscious, confused, and had a metabolic
ketoacidosis
but a normal blood sugar on admission to the hospital. Tests
for metabolic poisons such as aspirin were negative.
Fortunately, rehydration restored her to normal within 4-5
hours biochemically together with restoration to normal
levels of consciousness. I thought at the time that (the diet
cola) could be responsible but could not find any evidence to
support this ..the (company) in the UK (was) very defensive
about the effects of aspartame and denied any knowledge of
adverse effects of aspartame."
This information has come from Dr. Roberts book that was
written in l990. He has now declared Aspartame Disease a
world epidemic and has completed for publishing a medical
text on the world plague which will soon be available for the
consumer public.
Dr. Roberts does cover in detail this brainwashing about
more methanol in fruit juice. I'll quote a bit more so you
will
understand how far they go to indoctrinate the public with
misinformation. Searle originally manufactured aspartame
and Monsanto bought them in l985. They fund trade
organizations and write their material and this is a further
way they get their propaganda into the hands of consumers
and target physicians for misinformation.
"The FDA and the council on Scientific Affairs of the
American Medical Association (l985) rationalize the safety of
methanol in aspartame products with statements such as
"fruits and vegetables are also sources of dietary methanol"
and "dietary methanol also arises from fresh fruits and
vegetables" (Federal Register Vol. 48, NO. 132, July 8, l983,
p. 31380). The FDA Talk Paper (January 24, l984) further
asserted: "FDA said that no safety issues appeared to be
involved, there being more methanol in many fruit juices than
in long-stored aspartame products, including carbonated
beverages." Yet, Monte (l984) estimated the average daily
intake of methyl alcohol from natural sources at less than 10
mg.
In giving final approval for the addition of aspartame to
carbonated beverages and carbonated beverage syrup
bases (Federal Register February 22, l984, pp 6672-6682),
the FDA stated:
"The agency does not believe that methanol exposure
equivalent to 10 per cent of the aspartame dose is of
sufficient quantity to be of toxicological concern under acute
or chronic use conditions. FDA remains convinced that the
studies submitted by Searle in support of the dry use and
reviewed by the FDA prior to the dry uses approval and
again its evaluation of the carbonated beverage petition
adequately support the agency's conclusion that there was
"no cause for concern from the levels of dietary methanol
resulting from the highest projected levels of aspartame
consumption (48FR 31376 at 33181)."
After many requests, Dr. Roberts has still been unable to
obtain data from the FDA concerning its assays for the free
methanol content of fruits, fruit juices, alcohol beverages
and
other products derived by current methods.
* The reference used by the FDA concerning the presence
of more methanol in the "average fruit juice" (Francot l956)
than aspartame containing orange soda was published three
decades earlier. (written by Roberts in l990)
* Dr. David G. Hattan (Chief, Regulatory Affairs Staff, Office
of Nutrition and Food Sciences, Center for Food Safety and
Applied Nutrition of the FDA) told Dr. Roberts that he was
not aware of any such recent analyses (personal
communication, June 8, l987).
Three older references on this subject are repeatedly cited.
They were published in French (Le Moan l956), German
(Sommer l962), and Russian (Ivanitsky l973). Dr. Roberts
questions their relevance to aspartame, however, owing to
the emphasis on methanol in pectin-containing fruit and fruit
products, some vegetables, wines and their alcoholic
beverages. In fact, Ivanitskly (l973) concluded: "From the
standpoint of health, it is not correct to apply the standards
of the methanol content of alcoholic beverages arbitrarily to
fruit juices, as has been done by several authors."
Dr. Roberts says another issue must be raised in this
context. Any effects of small amounts of methanol possibly
present in fruit juices and wine tend to be offset by their
caloric content and the presence of ethanol (Gilger l959).
This contrasts with the absence of nourishment in the case
of "diet drinks".
Studies by Lund et al (l981) and Nispeeros-Camedo and
Shaw (l989) have clarified the methanol ethanol and
acetylaldehyde concentrations of citrus products.
Contemporary gas chromatography methods were used.
These data indicate the following:
* The concentration of methanol is higher in fresh-squeezed
orange juice compared to the small amounts in pasteurized
orange juice (22 mg/liter), frozen concentrate (3.4 mg/liter),
reconstituted juice from concentrate (trace/one glass) and
orange juice in the cans (trace). The former is undoubtedly
due to persistence of pectinmethylesterase enzyme in the
unpasteurized juice which demethylates some pectin and
liberates methanol in the process."
This is the end of quotes from Dr. Roberts book. Confirming
the seriousness of aspartame disease he writes about is a
recent study, Trocho C, Pardo R, Rafecas I, etc. from
Barcelona Spain showing that the formaldehyde
accumulates in the cells and damages DNA. Neurosurgeon
Russell Blaylock, M.D., writes to the Minneapolis
Neuropathy Association about this study and others, and
you can read his letter on
http://www.dorway.com/nomarkle.html He also writes about
the methanol in aspartame in his book Excitotoxins: The
Taste That Kills.
The late Dr. Morgan Raiford, ophthalmologist and specialist
in methanol toxicity, diagnosed many of the aspartame
victims who went blind in the 80's. In l986 the Community
Nutrition Institute filed a petition with the FDA to ban
aspartame because so many were going blind but the FDA
refused as they are very loyal to Monsanto. We sent
thousands of case histories to Dr. Michael Friedman of the
FDA and in June Monsanto hired him.
One day the FDA and Monsanto will have to answer for what
they have done. Since aspartame is estimated to be in 9000
products and climbing and 100 countries of the world,
Aspartame Disease may end up being one of the largest
epidemics in world history!
A few months ago world famous toxicologist, Dr. George
Schwartz, wrote Team NutraSweet and said: "By ignoring
the scientific studies which disagree with your position, you
are doing a great disservice to consumers. Further, you may
have created a base for litigation against your company by
denying existing science."
While Monsanto complains of misinformation on aspartame
on the Internet, it is Monsanto themselves who are putting it
out.
All my best, Betty
Betty Martini, Founder Mission Possible International
(warning the world off NutraSweet)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Steve Wingate
California Director
SKYWATCH INTERNATIONAL
Anomalous Images and UFO Files
http://www.anomalous-images.com
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