Mary Nash Stoddard's Blog, page 9

SWEETENERS GONE WILD BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE DEALERS OF DIETARY DECEPTION

Neotame:  The new, more controversial, form of aspartame, 13,000 times sweeter because 3-dimethylbutyl [on EPA's Most Hazardous Chemical's List] is added.
www.aspartamesafety.com/Article6.htm
www.aspartamesafety.com/PR4.htm

Local sugarcane finds its way into "Caddy Wars" as battle for sweetener success heats up

By SUSAN SALISBURY

Palm Beach Post Staff Writer

Monday, June 08, 2009


Yellow Splenda. Blue Equal. Pink Sweet 'N Low. Old-fashioned white granulated sugar, produced right here in Palm Beach County.The colorful sweetener market is getting downright crowded - and competitive, as packets fight for space in restaurant "caddys."

The usual sweetener suspects

Now there's a new color in town: green-clad stevia, a plant-derived sweetener used for centuries in South America. In December, after years of opposition, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, abruptly cleared the path for a highly purified form to sweeten foods and beverages.

Welcome to caddy wars.

The introduction of stevia, the newest combatant, has touched off unlikely liaisons, created colorful marketing confusion and reinvigorated the fight for control of which sweeteners get stirred, poured and sprinkled both in restaurants and eventually, at home.

Through their connection to Domino Foods Inc., West Palm Beach-based Florida Crystals Corp. and the Sugar Cane Growers Cooperative of Florida in Belle Glade are fighting back by joining hands with the enemy: NutraSweet Co., the Chicago-based maker of rival aspartame.

The local companies jointly own American Sugar Refining Inc. and the Domino sugar brand.

Domino and NutraSweet have developed a "caddy strategy" in the war of the packets, mixing up sugar and artificial sweeteners and perhaps confusingly for consumers, colors, with a line of new products such as NutraSweet Cane.

Introduced this year, NutraSweet Cane's yellow packets contain both sugar and two artificial sweeteners, taking direct aim at yellow-clad Splenda.

"We decided to go into each category - each color - and develop a product that was unique and better," said NutraSweet CEO Craig Petray.

But already, some consumers are bristling from the sugar caddy confusion. A recent posting on the Fooducate.com blog from a consumer named, Tina, expressed outraged over when she picked up a "pink packet" to sweeten her iced tea at Burger King and noticed it was NutraSweet Pink, not Sweet n'Low.

She checked it out later and found out that the NutraSweet packet was not saccharine, but contained neotame, which she had never heard of.

So is the unlikely pairing of sugar and sweetener folks; who for years have had a relationship more akin to the Hatfields and McCoys. For years, alternative sweetener manufacturers have marketed their products by attacking sugar as too caloric, seeking to blame it for the nation's obesity epidemic.

The sugar industry has shot back that sugar, unlike artificial sweeteners, is natural and at 15 calories a teaspoon, not that calorie-filled.

"Sugar is the gold standard and everything else is trying to come as close as possible to it," sniffs Brian O'Malley, Domino's president and CEO.

But, said O'Malley, "We decided to launch an artificial line of products in recognition that there are consumers who will not eat sugar; either they cannot or do not want to."

Only a few years ago, NutraSweet viewed sugar and high fructose corn syrup, another major sweetener, as "the enemy," Petray said. Then, "Five or six years ago, we got on a whole blending kick."

They opened a lab called "Sweet Spot," in Chicago, to specialize in sweetener blending. "We take out a little bit of high fructose corn syrup or sugar and put in other sweeteners, and have the products taste the same," Petray said.

Blended products that are a mix of sugar and another sweetener are becoming more common, and consumers will see more and more "hybrid blends" in foods and beverages too, Petray said. For example, Sunny Delight, a popular kids beverage, has both corn syrup and artificial ingredients neotame and ace-k. [Unlike Aspartame, Neotame does not have to be listed as an ingredient.]

The partnership's first product was blue-packeted NutraSweet, a blend of aspartame and ace-k, designed to compete with Equal, which has just aspartame. "It has a better up-front sweetness and less of a linger," Petray said of "blue," launched last year.

The latest offering, brought out at the National Restaurant Association in Chicago in May, is a green-packeted product called "100 percent Natural NutraSweet with Stevia." It contains 98 percent sugar, but 90 percent of the sweetness is from stevia, Petray said.

At first glance, the packets and boxes of the blended sweeteners look almost identical to the products they seek to usurp. For instance, NutraSweet "blue" boxes could be mistaken for Equal, which is known for blue packaging.

New Pink's pink packets and boxes compete with pink-packeted saccharine, though New Pink brags right on the box that it is "saccharine free," and has an "extra sweet taste." It is formulated to taste "just like Sweet 'N Low," Petray said. "During our market research, we found the one thing consumers did not like about (Sweet 'N Low) pink was that it has saccharine in it" - despite the fact that Sweet 'N Low is practically synonymous with saccharine.

The blending strategy continues throughout the product line, which is all manufactured and distributed by Domino and sold along with its sugar products. The sweeteners formulated by NutraSweet are marketed by both Domino and NutraSweet, and so far have been distributed primarily to restaurants and hotels, with grocery stores expected to be added later.

Petray said there's much more to come from NutraSweet's alliance with Domino Sugar.
###
Comments
By MIFI
Jun 10, 2009 9:57 PM  
Stevia is all natural (like sugar cane) and about 350 times more potent than sugar, without the chemical issues. 

By Joyce Grace
Jun 10, 2009 1:25 PM  
If you are looking for an all natural sweetner, then stick with sugar or stevia. Stevia is an herb that does not raise your blood sugar level. Warning: Pure stevia extract is VERY sweet and cloying. I purchased some at my local Fresh and Easy supermarket and I only need to use a 1/3 of the 25mg scoop to sweeten my tea. I used a whole scoop in my coffee and I was tasting it for about an hour.

By Tom Martin
Jun 9, 2009 10:26 AM 
Stick with Stevia. The Japanese have been using it for over 30 years without a health related complaint. Funny how the Japanese have one of the longest life expectancy rates on the planet.

____________________________________________________________________________________

Neotame: Next generation of aspartame problems. [At least aspartame is required by law to appear marked, somewhere on the ingredient label. Neotame is not!] Traveled from Monsanto Chemical Company (original patent holder) to The NutraSweet Company to J.W. Childs Partnership to Pharmacia to Pfizer. First petitioned in 1997, Neotame was approved in 2002 as safe for chewing gum, carbonated soft drinks, refrigerated and non-refrigerated ready-to-drink beverages, frozen desserts and novelties, puddings and fillings, yogurt products, baked goods, and candies.
_________________________________________________________________________
For more information:
Aspartame Consumer Safety Network and Pilot Hotline 
[Promoting FDA Recall of Aspartame - since 1987]

email: marystod@airmail.net
http://www.aspartamesafety.com

BAKING WITH #STEVIA SWEETENERS - HEALTHY ALTERNATIVE TO #ASPARTAME AND REFINED #SUGARS

There are many brands of Stevia Sweeteners on the Market today. In my opinion, Stevita Stevia is the purest and best product line available. I've been to their company many times and observed how this family-owned and operated business works hard to bring us the best product available. I have known the owners since the late eighties and trust their products implicitly. Please email me if you have questions.



http://marystod.blogspot.com/2013/11/who-will-win-sweetener-wars.html



We have wonderful stevia Cookbooks available for a $25 donation to our Aspartame Awareness campaign. Let me know if you want a Cookbook filled with delicious recipes similar to the ones below:





PECAN SANDIES



1 cup butter

3/4 cup oat flour

1 1/2 cups soy protein isolate

1/2 teaspoon stevioside or

4 teaspons stevia blend or

8 packets of stevia

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 cup pecans finely chopped



Topping

1 cup pecans, finely chopped

1/8 teaspoon stevioside

or 1 teaspoon stevia blend

or 2 packets of stevia



In a mixing bowl, beat butter with an electric mixer on medium to high speed for 30 seconds. Add about half of the soy protein and oat flour, stevia, vanilla and 1 tablespoon of water. Beat till thoroughly combined. Beat in remaining soy and flour. Stir in 1 cup of finely chopped pecans,. In a separate bowl, combine 1 cup finely chopped pecans with stevia. Shape dough into crescents, 1-inch balls or 2-inch fingers. Press into pecan mixture covering the cookies completely. Place on an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake cookies in a 325 degree oven for about 20 minutes or till bottoms are slightly browned. Cool cookies on a wire rack.



Makes 3 dozen



NUTRITIONAL FACTS PER SERVING: 1G CARBOHYDRATE; 86 CALORIES; 9G TOTAL FAT; 1G PROTEIN - FOOD EXCHANGES: 2 FAT



----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



TEXAS SPICED PECANS



A nice fall snack



1/4 teaspoon nutmeg

1/4 teaspoon ground clove

1 teaspoon cinnamon

3/4 teaspoon salt

1 each egg white

2 cups pecans

1/2 teaspoon stevioside or 4 teaspoons stevia blend or 8 packets of stevia

2 tablespoons water



In a bowl, combine all spices and stevia. In another bowl, beat egg white with water till frothy. Add pecans to egg mixture and coat well. Place coated pecans on a greased baking sheet and sprinkle spice mixture over nuts. Bake at 300 degrees for 30-minutes. Allow to cool before serving.



Makes four 1/2 cup servings



PER SERVING: 11G CARBOHYDARATE; 367 CALORIES; 37G TOTAL FAT; 5G PROTEIN - FOOD EXCHANGES: 1/2 STARCH/ 1/2 LEAN MEAT; 7 FAT



http://www.stevitastevia.com/newsdetails.php

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Labels:

Aspartame, Stevia, Sweeteners, Baking, Stevita Co., Mary Nash Stoddard, FDA, Food Additives, Sugar, Diabetics, Fat, Protein, Food Exchanges, Low Calorie,



_____________________________________________________________________________



Mary Nash Stoddard

marystod@airmail.net

FROM #FDA DOCUMENT FILES (Washington DC) re: #ASPARTAME RECALL /#PARKINSON'S DISEASE RESEARCH

Date: January 12, 2002 Please find below Evidence File #6: Aspartame & Parkinson's Disease Scientific Abuse in Parkinson's Disease Research Related to Aspartame Table of Contents Summary of Aspartame Effects on Parkinson's Disease Meaningless Industry Research References Summary of Aspartame and Parkinson's Disease Issue Severe adverse effects of regular aspartame use by Parkinson's Disease patients has not been reported in the scientific literature. However, researchers and physicians know that case histories are rarely reported in the scientific literature, but instead, reported to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and to independent organizations such as Aspartame Consumer Safety Network. These organizations have received numerous case reports of aspartame worsening Parkinson's Disease patients (Stoddard 1995). In addition, professionals familiar with aspartame use and Parkinson's Disease have reported adverse effects (Morris 1995): "[At] the state psychiatric hospital where I worked in quality assurance the psychiatrists [stated] that patients exhibiting Parkinsonian tremors should not receive any food or beverage containing Nutrasweet as it increased the tremors. .... "I NEVER use aspartame (Nutrasweet) or any food or beverage containing it due to what I have seen as side effects in patients with Parkinsonian tremors." The adverse effects of aspartame on Parkinson's Disease patients may be due to the damaging effects of aspartame-released excitotoxins in combination with the formaldehyde metabolite. Excitotoxins have been implicated in the development and worsening of Parkinson's Disease symptoms (Blaylock 1994, Choi 1992, Kurland 1988). [Note: Scientific abuse related to excitotoxins and aspartame will be discussed in another chapter.] Formaldhyde would be expected to exacerbate the toxic effects of the excitotoxins and discussed in the Methanol / Formaldehyde Research section. Another theory as to adverse effects of aspartame on Parkinson's Disease patients has been put forth by Pardridge (1986): "Blockade of the therapeutic effects of some drugs would also be a complication associated with hyperphenylalaninemia. The on-off effects seen in L-DOPA therapy of Parkinson patients have been attributed to the effects of the amino acids in dietary protein on L-DOPA uptake into the brain [Nutt 1984]. Since L-DOPA, a neutral amino acid, is transported into the brain on the same phenylalanine transport system [Wade 1975], it would be expected that L-DOPA levels in the brain are inversely related to plasma neutral amino acid levels." Because the phenylalanine from aspartame is in free-form (unbound to protein), it is absorbed suddenly and can spike the blood plasma levels of phenylalanine (Caballero 1986, Matalon 1988, Stegink 1987). Pardridge's theory is that this sudden rise in phenylalanine levels interferes with L-DOPA used to treat Parkinson's Disease. Unfortunately, Dr. Pardrige was (like many others) fooled by flawed and nearly fraudulent industry research related to methanol and excitotoxins. There is admitedly a lack of long-term research on the effects of aspartame on Parkinson's Disease patients. But given the exposure to formaldehyde, free-form excitotoxic amino acids, and free-form phenylalanine, there is plenty of reasons for Parkinson's Disease patients to avoid aspartame until long-term independent research is performed. Meaningless Industry Research Industry research (Karstaedt 1993) has concluded that: "Aspartame consumption in amounts well in excess of what would be consumed by heavy users of aspartame-sweetened products has no adverse effects on PD [Parkinson's Disease] patients." It sounds very convincing until the study is examined and it becomes clear that the researchers were not testing anything related to aspartame toxicity. The researchers were not even testing their own hypothesis because of the severely-flawed study deisgn. Karstaedt (1993) flaws: 1. The study lasted only one day. It is difficult to imagine how any researcher could proclaim the safety of aspartame after a single day test. It has been known for many years that the neurological effects of aspartame usually take medium-term or long-term use to appear in patients (CDC 1984, Roberts 1988). This proves that they were not testing adverse effects as they happen in the real world. 2. The aspartame was given in capsules. Capsule administration of aspartame has been proven to eliminate the sudden absorption of the aspartame breakdown products (Stegink 1987). This is particularly disturbing because the researchers were attempting to test whether the spike of plasma phenylalanine levels (normally seen from aspartame consumption) affects Parkinson's Disease patients. Yet they administered aspartame in such a way as to eliminate the plasma phenylalanine spike! 3. The authors claim that a high dose of aspartame was administered. In reality, the dose was approximately 20-40% of the FDA acceptable daily intake of 50 mg/kg/day. The dose given in this experiment been shown to be equaled or exceeded on a daily basis by regular users (CDC 1984, Frey 1976, Porikos 1984). The authors based their estimate of a high dose on a projected estimate of daily intake published shortly after aspartame was approved for use in carbonated beverages (Roak-Folz 1984). Whenever one sees statements implying that aspartame is "safe" for Parkinson's Disease patients, it should be understood that such statements are based soley on this single-day, poorly-designed study. People who cite this study as evidence of aspartame's "safety" are usually either Monsanto/NutraSweet consultants or persons completely unfamiliar with the scientific literature. References Blaylock, Russell L., 1994. "Excitotoxins: The Taste That Kills," Health Press, Santa Fe, New Mexico, c1994. Caballero, Benjamin, et al., 1986. "Plasma Amino Acid Levels After Single-Dose Aspartame Consumption in Phenylketonuria, Milk Hyperphenylalaninemia, and Heterozygous State for Phenylketonuria," Journal of Pediatrics, Volume 190, No. 4, page 668-671. CDC 1984. "Evaluation of Consumer Complaints Related to Aspartame Use," Division of Nutrition, Center for Health Promotion and Education, Centers for Disease Control, Atlanta, GA 30333, November 1984. Choi, Dennis W., 1992. "Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Glutamate -- Too Much of a Good Thing," Science, Volume 326, No. 22, page 1493-1495. Frey, Gunther H., 1976. "Use of Aspartame By Apparently Healthy Children and Adolescents," Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health, Volume 2, page 401-415. Karstaedt, Patricia, Jonathan Pincus, 1993. "Aspartame Use in Parkinson's Disease," Neurology, Volume 43, pages 611-613. Kurland, L.T., 1988 "Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Parkinson's Disease Complex on Guam Linked to an Environmental Neurotoxin," Trends in Neuroscience, Volume 11, page 51-54. Matalon, Reuben, et al., 1988. "Aspartame Consumption in Normal Individuals and Carriers for Phenylketonuria (PKU)," Presented at "Dietary Phenylalanine and Brain Function." Proceedings of the First International Meeting on Dietary Phenylalanine and Brain Function, Washington, D.C., May 8-10, 1987. Center for Brain Sciences and Metabolism Charitable Trust, P.O. Box 64, Kendall Square, Cambridge, MA 02142. Reprinted in "Dietary Phenyalalnine and Brain Function," c1988, Birkhauser, Boston, MA USA, page 41-52. Morris, Rosemary, 1995. Post to USENET Group sci.med.nutrtion on July 5, 1995. Found on the Internet at: http://x16.dejanews.com/getdoc.xp?AN=105653826&CONTEXT=917226403.236126282&hitnum=1 Nutt, J.G., et al. 1984. "The 'on-off' Phenomenon in Parkinson's Disease. Relation to Levodopa Absorption and Transport," New England Journal of Medicine, Volume 310, pages 483-488. Pardridge, William M., 1986. "Potential Effects of the Dipeptide Sweetener Aspartame on the Brain," In "Nutrition and the Brain, Volume 7," Edited by R.J. Wurtman and J.J. Wurtman, Raven Press, New York, c1986, page 199-241. Porikos, Katherine P., Theodore B. Van Italie, 1984. "Efficacy of Low-Calorie Sweeteners in Reducing Food Intake: Studies with Aspartame" IN Stegink, L., Filer L., 1984. "Aspartame: Physiology and Biochemistry," Marcel Dekker, Inc., N.Y., page 273-286. Roak-Foltz, R., Leveille, G., 1984. "Projected Aspartame Intake: Daily Ingestion of Aspartic Acid, Phenylalanine, and Methanol," in Stegink, L., Filer L., 1984. "Aspartame: Physiology and Biochemistry," Marcel Dekker, Inc., N.Y. Roberts, H.J., 1988. "Reactions Attributed to Aspartame-Containing Products: 551 Cases," Journal of Applied Nutrition, Volume 40, page 85-94. Stegink, Lewis D., et al. 1987. "Plasma Amino Acid Concentrations in Normal Adults Administered Aspartame in Capsules or Solution: Lack of Bioequivalence," Metabolism, Volume 36, No. 5, page 507-512. Stoddard, Mary Nash, 1995. Conversations between Mary Nash Stoddard of the Aspartame Consumer Safety Network and Mark D. Gold. Wade, L.A., R. Katzman, 1975. "Rat Brain Regional Uptake and Decarboxylation of L-DOPA Following Carotid Injection," American Journal of Physiology, Volume 228, page 352-359._____________________________________________________________________________________Subject: Docket # 02P-0317 To: FDA Dockets Submittal From: Mark D. Gold - Concord, NH____________________________________________________________________________________ Mary Nash Stoddardmarystod@airmail.net

LANDMARK CASE SIGNALING DUPLICITY OF #ASPARTAME APPLICANT'S MAKERS (Associated Press Story)

JURY FOUND G.D. SEARLE LIES ON PRODUCT SAFETY APPLICATIONS
Check out what a seated Jury thought about the safety of drug-maker G.D. Searle's products. The Nine Million $$$ settlement was huge back in 1988. Falsifying laboratory test results was the ONLY way to get Aspartame approved by FDA in 1981. So, that's what Searle did, with the help of CEO, Donald Rumsfeld. Twenty-six years after this stunning win by a victim of product fraud, the concerns have only become greater. Until now, scurrilous bribery and intimidation tactics, on the part of the manufacturers, have kept this hazardous product on the shelves. Sooner or later, Justice must prevail, as it did for this poor victim in 1988! Try to imagine the enormous liabilities that have accumulated over the past 3 decades. Mind boggling to say the least. Don't you agree?_____________________________________________________________________________*** Suit Against Makers of Aspartame Who Should Also Have Been Sued for 'Intentionally Misrepresenting' Their (Aspartame) Sweetener's Safety As Well. Same Scientist Coverup of Adverse Reactions as Ones In IUD Suit:______________________________________________________Dallas Morning News - Sept. 1988
Woman Wins $9 Million in IUD Suit(G.D. Searle Drug Co. also makes Aspartame Sweeteners)

ASSOCIATED PRESS
ST. PAUL, Minn. - A federal jury Friday awarded a woman nearly $9 million in finding that G.D. Searle and Co. made intentional misrepresentations of  the Copper~7 intrauterine device, leading to the woman's sterility.
The Jury also decided the company was negligent in its testing, but not in its design or manufacture, of the Copper-7 worn by Esther Kociemba.
Kociemba, 30, of Elk River, was awarded $7 million in punitive damages, $1 million for emotional distress and $750,000 for pain and disability.
The jury did not award damages to Kociemba's husband, William.Jurors refused to comment on the verdict.
Searle attorney Paul Strain of Baltimore said the verdict will be appealed.
About 500 lawsuits have been filed over the Copper-7, the most widely used IUD in 'the United States' before it was withdrawn from the U.S. market, in January 1986, in the midst of the litigation. 
Searle won 15 of the previous 18 cases to  be decided, but Kociemba's attorneys' have said  none of the previous cases included as many documents or as much deposition testimony as this one.
(submitted by: Mary Nash Stoddard/author Deadly Deception Story of Aspartame) http://marystod.blogspot.com/

#ASPARTAME REACTION REPORTS CONTINUE TO POUR IN FROM AROUND THE WORLD

Our Aspartame Consumer Safety Network and Pilot Hotline Continues to Receive Complaints from Consumers Over the Past 27 years. 
The following reports are a miniscule sample taken from  the tens of thousands I've received, since 1987, from people looking for answers. Tragically, FDA has registered reports of Aspartame Deaths in their files and refuses to release the latest statistics. Injuries to children are probably closest to our hearts, followed in quick succession by adverse reaction reports from Pilots. One doctor called it an Aspartame Epidemic. How long must we wait on a hopelessly corrupt government agency (FDA) to correct this situation? Aspartame is a 'drug' that long ago should've been re-called and retested as a pharmaceutical drug, which is how it was discovered (as a drug for peptic ulcers.) The makers have enjoyed 33 years of profiting off their ill-gotten gains. That's 33 years too many, in our opinion, based on published, peer-reviewed independent studies and research! There should be no statute of limitation on criminal actions of this magnitude. -- Mary Nash Stoddard____________________________________________________________________________Report #1.I have had Diabetes for the last 20-years. Started out with just pills and diet but have been insulin dependent for about 18 years now. Recently, I have undergone several major surgeries for Diabetic Retinopathy. I was almost completely blind a few years ago. Now I can see pretty good from my right eye but only partially from my left eye, even after all of the surgeries. I have completely lost my peripheral vision forever, and have been told there is nothing else that can be done for my left eye. Both of my retinas have been detached and repaired, and my left eye also had a hole in the center of it which was partially repaired. 

The doctors say it was from diabetes...nobody ever mentioned Aspartame to me. I just found out about Apartame a few months ago when someone sent me an email. 

I have been drinking tons of diet coke for the last 20-years thinking I was cutting down on sugar consumption. I also constantly had a sugarfree Certs in my mouth, because I was always thirsty. Turns out Certs also have Aspartame in them!

I have been off of diet coke and Certs for several months now and feel much better. Leg cramps have subsided, muscle aches have gone away and I have much more energy. I also have overcome my insomnia! 

Unfortunately, it is too late for my eyesight...what a shame. Any help you can offer me in this area would be greatly appreciated. Keep up the great work. Mike M._____________________________________________________________________________
Report #2.
I battled high blood pressure from 1987 until 2006. My blood pressure
had become uncontrollable. I had memory lapses where I could not
remember someone's name. My joints were hurting and aching and my prostate
was enlarged.

My doctor just kept increasing my medications and the symptoms kept getting
worse. After experiencing dizziness and nose bleeds from excessively high blood
pressure, I had to stop eating and only consume distilled water. After several days,
my blood pressure went down to 116/65. I started eating only one food at a time and
checking my blood pressure at intervals afterward to see if my blood pressure went
up. I did not experience a problem until I drank a diet drink with Nutrasweet. My blood
pressure soared to 185/100 and stayed high for hours. As a result, I took diet drinks off my
consumables list.

Then I had a cup of coffee sweetened with Equal and my blood pressure soared
again. So I switched to decaf coffee sweetened with Equal and had the same
thing happen again. My blood pressure soared and stayed up for hours. After
that, I knew that Equal sweetener, (aspartame), was the problem.
I drank decaf coffee sweetened with sugar for a solid week, and it had no
effect on my blood pressure at all. I even went back to regular coffee
sweetened with sugar and had only a moderate blood pressure increase,
(131/80), that lasted for about an hour.

On top of that, I haven't had a memory lapse since I stopped using
aspartame. My joints had been hurting me so bad that I could not sleep
through the night. My joints have not ached since I stopped using
aspartame - that is not a coincidence! On top of that, my prostate  symptoms
subsided too. I do not have to take any medications at all since I
eliminated aspartame from my diet. I think I had several TIAs as a result of high blood
pressure induced by aspartame. I wonder how many people have died of strokes
or heart failure from high blood pressure brought on from using aspartame?

It is not a coincidence that my high blood pressure and my other health
problems started when I started using Equal, back in 1987, and ended
when I stopped using it. Sincerely, C. H. W.
____________________________________________________________________________Report #3.
Mary,My son has experienced the horrific effects of aspartame and is still in the recovering phase.  He has been on singulair for the past three years, and back in April after patch testing at University of Miami, he was found to have a formaldehyde toxicity.  It was at that time that we found out that singulair has aspartame in it.  Only the singulair made for children does, in order to sweeten it.  
He has been off the singulair for 4 months now, but he still has recurrent skin eruptions that reqiure hospitalization.  UM has referred him to National Jewish Center in Denver and we are leaving the 4th of September.  So  many kids are on Singulair for their asthma and I will spread the word in Denver about my findings.  His IgE was as high as 37,000 and two months after being off the singulair it is now down to 677.  
I am designing my own website to help other moms out there who pray their child makes it through the night almost every night.  This is such a serious epidemic.  What my son has endured is a sin.  I am a neonatal nurse and I want to post all the medications that contain aspartame on my website, although all the ones I have researched are not updated.  Singulair is not on any of them.  I called Merck to see how much aspartame is in the 5mg chewable and they said I had to write to them.  I did and I sent it certified mail, but I have not heard back.  I probably never will.  Two girls on the singulair lost their hair and it was reported to the FDA 6 months ago, and the doctor who reported it has not heard back from Merck.  Please send me any information regarding children and an updated list of all the meds containing aspartame that you have.  Thank you, K.G.
Report #4.
Dear Mary, the outer carton of my prenatal vitamins was unfortunately thrown out several months ago.  Last Friday, I called my pharmacist to obtain a refill of the Embrex 600 and was told that the product had recently been recalled due to labeling problems.  Searching online, one websitewww.hdsmith.com/HD_docs/drugsmith.pdf listed the labeling error by Adrx Laboratories (the manufacturer).  This site states the there was "no warning for phenylketonurics" on the label, and that the chewable calcium contained 4mg phenylalanine.  There were several other inactive ingredients that were mislabeled, but this one was the most upsetting.  I called Andrx Laboratories to find out more information and ended up speaking to a physician that works for that company.  He stated that the amount of aspartame was "less than 8mg", and that aspartame is "not contraindicated during pregnancy".  There is just so much more to be learned about aspartame and it should not be in a product that is made for pregnant women to take, and we discussed that.  Hope this information is helpful.  I'm sure there are multiple sources for finding out the details of the recall, I am just not finding them.  Thank you so much for your time. K.G.
_____________________________________________________________________________Report #5.
Greetings,I  have just found information saying that Aspartame causes  SEVERE PAIN  and symptoms of, or causes FIBROMYALGIA, as-well as other very PAINFUL disease's, and/or can copy the PAINFUL EFFECTS of diseases such as MS, and others. Is this understanding of my readings correct?I ask this because I suffer from SEVERE PAIN, and have had to under-go two surgeries to have implanted an Introthiceal Drug Delivery Pump for SEVERE PAIN and am also on and in NEED of strong oral pain killers as-well, to be able to survive day-to-day living / existing. So, I guess I'm wondering IF Aspartame IS, or COULD-BE at-least one reason for the SEVERE "FIBROMYALGIC" pain that I daily have to deal with.Until today,(Wednesday 28 February, 2007) I USED-TO drink approximately 8 to 12 DIET PEPSI's per day(1 liter/1.05qt bottle). I have been drinking this product, ALMOST the same amount as I currently consume, since my mid-teens. I'm now 35yrs-old. Now that I've been informed by a very good friend that there MIGHT be a link to Aspartame (in DIET PEPSI), and the SEVERE PAIN I SUFFER day-to-day with, I have made the choice to NO LONGER CONSUME PRODUCTS with/containing Aspartame, to see if the information sent to me via e-mail is correct, figuring that if I stop consuming products containing Aspartame, HOPEFULLY with-in a few months, I SHOULD be feeling better, and NOT having to exist with as much pain. (This is kind-of my own "case-study" regarding Aspartame, and pain). I AM VERY interested in knowing if Aspartame IS, or MIGHT BE the cause of YEARS OF SEVERE PAINFUL SUFFERING.Thank-you and Kindest Regards,Mr. R. A. "Soda-Pop" H.
_____________________________________________________________________________Report #6. (Sent from Australia)

Hello. Ive been using Equal sugar for about 10 years. For the past 5 years I have been experiencing burning sensations and numbness in my feet and hands and this problem was getting worse every year. I've visited several neurologists and all confirmed that I have small fiber neuropathy but they didn't know the cause. It's only until I googled the problem that I came across several website including yours. I am not alone and I have stopped using Equal. Thank you for your website.

_____________________________________________________________________________

http://marystod.blogspot.com/

#Aspartame Adverse Reaction Report (Typical of Thousands Received by ACSN org.)

The following is a fairly typical, serious report to our Aspartame Awareness Home Office in Dallas. Tens of Thousands have contacted us over the years to tell their stories - often with supporting documentation in the form of Medical Records. Often, a relative contacts us to talk about losing a loved one to this terrible substance. It breaks my heart to hear and read these things, but I continue to educate and provide hope and comfort to those who have suffered so needlessly. These victims deserve better than this! - Mary Nash Stoddard

Date: March 11, 2004 12:08:29 PM CSTSubject: Nutrasweet Questionnaire
Nutrasweet Questionnaire

Dear Ms Stoddard - I found the website aspartamesafety.com today, and thought I'd share my story, as old as it is.
I'm not a pilot - but when I had my first attack, I was driving on the New York State Thruway.  Fortnately I wasn't alone.  The trip from upstate New York to Newton MA took close to 10 hours, and included two stops at hospitals along the way.  The ER doctors assumed it was from July 4th weekend drinking with friends; but the attacks continued.
I've always felt that the stuff was dangerous.  People look at me like I'm cuckoo when I tell my story - all I can say was that my problem stopped after I stopped ingesting the stuff.
And I refuse to give it to my kids.
Good luck in your endeavors.
=======================
Name: T. D.
Age: 42
Sex: Male
Westborough MA
Medical problem caused by Aspartame:

Extreme vertigo/nausea/dizziness
Why I believe they were caused by aspartame:

Because they stopped when I stopped drinking diet beverages.
Did the symptoms go away?

Yes, after about a month or two.  For a period of some months in 1992, I had regular attacks, occurring about every 14 days, of vertigo where I couldn't stand up, I couldn't walk - all I could do was hold onto the floor, vomit, and hold on for dear life for the 10-15 hours the attacks would last. 

When I stopped drinking diet drinks, the attacks continued for a month or two, with decreasing severity and intensity, and the time between the attacks got longer, until they stopped altogether.  I haven't had an experience like this since late 1992.
Did I see a doctor? 

Yes.  I saw an ENT who performed extensive tests, including an MRI, to rule out brain tumor or a tumor in the ear exerting pressure on the vestibular system.  He also ruled out drug use, wax buildup in the ear, and other ear-related problems.
Did the doctor think it was linked to Aspartame? No.
Did I report the symptoms?  No.  This is the first time I'm reporting it anywhere.
What specific products:

Diet Coca-Cola, Crystal Light (powdered drink mix)
How much/how often:

At least 6 - 12oz cans of Diet Coke a day; several 8-12 oz glasses of Crystal Light.  It wasn't bad for me, and calorie free, so what was the harm of drinking so much? 
How long before I experienced symptoms? 

I don't recall - it was 10 plus years ago, now - but probably some months.  My first attack occurred over the July 4 weekend and continued into the fall.  I probably started drinking the stuff as a means to lose weight - I had gained a lot over the holidays.

--_____________________________________________________________________________

ATTENTION:#FAA, #PILOTS, #AVIATION_INDUSTRY, #USAF, #CAA,...

ATTENTION:
#FAA, #PILOTS, #AVIATION_INDUSTRY, #USAF, #CAA, #AIR_TRAFFIC_CONTROLLERS, #FLIGHT_ATTENDANTS, #US_DEFENSE_DEPARTMENT, #AIRLINE_PERSONNEL, #FAA_MEDICAL_EXAMINERS, #FLIGHT_SCHOOLS, #MILITARY

Chapter On Flying and Aspartame (Table of Contents)
(Deadly Deception Story of Aspartame. Odenwald Press 1998)

Following is a partial List of Volumes of published references from the Aspartame Consumer Safety Network Pilot Hotline Library:

Flying and Aspartame:


* Aspartame and Flying - Extraordinary Science, March, 1995
* U.S. Air Force Flying Safety - Aspartame Alert
* National Business Aircraft Assn. Digest - Bitter Aftertaste
* FAA Medical Examiner's Case Histories (James B. Hays, M.D.)
* Report links aspartame to pilot and driver error
* Aviation Medical Bulletin - Pilots and Aspartame
* Can Aspartame Cause Hypoxia at Altitudes? (G. Leighton)
* Safeguard - The Aviation Consumer
* Fit to Fly - Aspartame and Diet Drinks (CGAN art.)
* Pacific Flyer - This Could Save Your Life
* Letters to Editors (Flying Magazines)
* Gen. Aviation News - NutraSweet ... too good to be true?
* Australia's Aviation Safety Digest - Not for the Dieting Pilot
* Plane and Pilot - High on High (Getting High on Aspartame)
* London's The Food mag. - Aspartame safety review - Pilot safety fears over Aspartame
* Some Still Bitter Over NutraSweet
* "NutraSweet Tests Faked" - London's The Guardian newspaper
* International Council of Air Shows '95


Tags: #Aspartame #Pilots, #Airlines, #Flying, #Seizures, #FAA, #NTSB, #USAF, #NAVY, #Military, #Alcohol, #Diet #Sugarfree, #Gum, #Methanol, #Airplane, #Medical, #FDA, #Media, #Aviation #Aspartame_Consumer_Safety_Network, #Pilot_Hotline, #Mary_Nash_Stoddard, #Deadly_Deception, #Senate_Hearing, #Safety_of_Flight, #Cockpit, #Vertigo,

Lobbying Hard For FDA Recall of Aspartame - Based on Late...

Lobbying Hard For FDA Recall of Aspartame - Based on Latest Scientific Studies Showing Proof of: Obesity, Seizures, Blindness, Plus: Kidney, Uterine, Brain, Pancreas, Liver, and Lung Cancers 
Dallas -- The safety of the artificial sweetener aspartame is questioned again following the release of a report connecting diet drinks to heart attacks, strokes and diabetes. 
Aspartame Consumer Safety Network founder, Mary Nash Stoddard said, "The new Framingham study follows on the heels of an eight year study on experimental rats." Author of Italy's Ramazzini Cancer Research Institute's study, Dr. Morando Soffritti found Aspartame (aka: NutraSweet; Equal; Canderel; Advantame; AminoSweet; Neotame) causes lymphoma, leukemia and breast cancer.
Authors of a major study published July 23rd 2007, in Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association, found that one or more sodas per day increases risk of new-onset metabolic syndrome (a cluster of factors that boosts the chance of having a heart attack or stroke and developing diabetes) by about 45 per cent. "It did not seem to matter if the soda was regular or diet," Dr. Ramachandran Vasan, senior investigator for the Framingham Heart Study, said Monday from Boston. 
"In the 1970s, Food and Drug Administration toxicologist, Dr. Jerome Bressler discovered unreported heart and other life threatening problems in the laboratory animals, showing how the original drug company tests could have been manipulated to gain approval for the sweetener," said Stoddard.
American Heart Association scientists said in the study, 6,039 middle-aged participants without "metabolic syndrome," an umbrella term for excess waist circumference (obesity), hypertension and glucose intolerance (pre-diabetes) who daily drank one soft drink of any kind, in a 4-year follow-up, had a 50% higher prevalence of metabolic syndrome than those who didn't drink 1 soda (12-ounces) a day. 
The link to diet soda found in the study was "striking" says Dr. Vasan, because it shows artificially sweetened diet sodas could be harmful. "That association was evident even when the researchers accounted for other factors, such as levels of saturated fat, calorie intake, smoking and physical activity."
While authors of the study are still somewhat mystified about why there seemed to be no difference between the adverse effects of drinking regular or diet sodas sweetened with the artificial sweetener, Aspartame, Stoddard proposes: "part of the answer lies in the Cephalic [Pavlovian] response that may be elicited by both high fructose corn sweeteners and artificial sweeteners." 
In the study, it is stated, "The high sweetness of diet or regular soft drinks may lead to conditioning for a greater preference for intake of sweetened items." This speculation is based on a study by T.L. Davidson, S.E. Swithers titled A Pavlovian approach to the problem of obesity, in the Internal Journal of Obesity Related Metabolic Disorders, published in 2004.
By way of further explanation, author Dennis Remington, M.D. said in the book, The Bitter Truth About Artificial Sweeteners, "Another problem arises from using highly sweetened products of any type, whether used by themselves with few calories, as in a diet drink, or whether used to sweeten real food. Frequent ingestion of highly sweetened products forces the senses to become used to the extremely sweet taste. The sweetness causes a number of changes to occur, including release of insulin and release of endorphins and contributes to the sense of satiety caused by eating." A scientific study done by Dr. T.L. Powley titled The ventromedial hypothalamic syndrome, satiety, and a cephalic phase hypothesis, published in Psychology Review in 1977 explains this response in more detail. Dr. Remington also cites the study by J.E. Blundell and A.J. Hill in Lancet, May 10, 1986 titled: Paradoxical effects of an intense sweetener [Aspartame] on appetite to show how subjects in a study gained weight while using Aspartame.
"Foods that are not as sweet may no longer cause adequate insulin and endorphin release and may no longer be satisfying to the consumer. Also, foods that are not as sweet may no longer taste good. Using highly sweetened foods on a frequent basis will thus rob one of the pleasure normally derived from eating good wholesome food." Obesity expert, Dr. Remington also points out that there seems to be a clear cut relationship between weight gain and the use of artificial sweeteners, which should be further investigated.  __________________________________________________________________
The report is titled: Soft Drink Consumption and Risk of Developing Cardiometabolic Risk Factors and the Metabolic Syndrome in Middle-Aged Adults in the Community - Ravi Dhingra, Lisa Sullivan, Paul F. Jacques, Thomas J. Wang, Caroline S. Fox, James B. Meigs, Ralph B. DAgostino, J. Michael Gaziano and Ramachandran S. Vasan
Circulation published online July 23, 2007; published by the American Heart Association.http://circ.ahajournals.org/cgi/reprint/CIRCULATIONAHA.107.689935v1 
__________________________________________________________________** Message **
Diet Food Research

** Diet food 'may fuel obesity risk' **
Diet foods and drinks for children may inadvertently lead to overeating
and obesity, say researchers.
< http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/fr/-/2/hi/health/6933686.stm > 

Mary Nash Stoddard, Founder
Aspartame Consumer Safety Network and Pilot Hotline
[Promoting FDA Recall of Aspartame - since 1987]
http://www.aspartamesafety.com

Attention: #Aspartame #Alcohol #AddictsIs This What You W...

Attention: #Aspartame #Alcohol #AddictsIs This What You Want To Be Feeding Your Kids?
Every Molecule of ASPARTAME Sweeteners Contains 10% METHANOL:Hazardous Substance Fact SheetCommon Name: METHYL ALCOHOLSynonyms: Carbinol; Wood Alcohol Chemical Name: Methanol Date: April 2002 Revision: September 2011Methyl Alcohol is a colorless liquid with a slightly sweet, strong odor. It is used as a solvent and alternative motor fuel, and in making other chemicals, windshield washer fluid and de-icing solutions.␣ODOR THRESHOLD = 100 to 1,500 ppm ␣Odor thresholds vary greatly. Do not rely on odor alone todetermine potentially hazardous exposures.␣Methyl Alcohol is on the Right to Know Hazardous Substance List because it is cited by OSHA, ACGIH, DOT, NIOSH, IRIS, NFPA and EPA.␣This chemical is on the Special Health Hazard Substance List.CAS Number: RTK Substance Number: DOT Number:67-56-1 1222 UN 1230Description and UseHazard SummaryHazard RatingNJDHSSNFPAHEALTH-1FLAMMABILITY-3REACTIVITY-0TERATOGEN FLAMMABLE POISONOUS GASES ARE PRODUCED IN FIRE CONTAINERS MAY EXPLODE IN FIREReasons for CitationSEE GLOSSARY ON PAGE 5.FIRST AIDEMERGENCY RESPONDERS >>>> SEE LAST PAGEHazard Rating Key: 0=minimal; 1=slight; 2=moderate; 3=serious; 4=severe␣Methyl Alcohol can affect you when inhaled and by passing through the skin.␣Methyl Alcohol may be a TERATOGEN. HANDLE WITH EXTREME CAUTION.␣Contact can cause skin irritation. Prolonged or repeated contact can cause a skin rash, dryness and redness.␣Methyl Alcohol can irritate the eyes and can cause blurred vision and blindness.␣Inhaling Methyl Alcohol can irritate the nose, throat and lungs causing coughing, wheezing and/or shortness of breath.␣Methyl Alcohol can cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and abdominal pain.␣Exposure to high concentrations can cause headache, dizziness, drowsiness, fatigue, loss of consciousness and death.␣Methyl Alcohol may damage the liver, kidneys and nervous system.␣Methyl Alcohol is a FLAMMABLE LIQUID and a DANGEROUS FIRE HAZARD.Eye Contact␣Immediately flush with large amounts of water for at least 15 minutes, lifting upper and lower lids. Remove contact lenses, if worn, while flushing. Seek medical attention.Skin Contact␣Quickly remove contaminated clothing. Immediately wash contaminated skin with large amounts of water. Seek medical attention.Inhalation␣Remove the person from exposure. ␣Begin rescue breathing (using universal precautions) ifbreathing has stopped and CPR if heart action has stopped. ␣Transfer promptly to a medical facility.EMERGENCY NUMBERSPoison Control: 1-800-222-1222 CHEMTREC: 1-800-424-9300 NJDEP Hotline: 1-877-927-6337 National Response Center: 1-800-424-8802OSHA:The legal airborne permissible exposure limit (PEL) is 200 ppm averaged over an 8-hour workshift.Workplace Exposure LimitsNIOSH: The recommended airborne exposure limit (REL) is 200 ppm averaged over a 10-hour workshift and 250 ppm, not to be exceeded during any 15-minute work period.ACGIH: The threshold limit value (TLV) is 200 ppm averaged over an 8-hour workshift and 250 ppm as a STEL (short-term exposure limit).␣Methyl Alcohol may be a TERATOGEN in humans. All contact with this chemical should be reduced to the lowest possible level.␣The above exposure limits are for air levels only. When skin contact also occurs, you may be overexposed, even though air levels are less than the limits listed above.METHYL ALCOHOLPage 2 of 6Determining Your Exposure␣Read the product manufacturer's Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) and the label to determine product ingredients and important safety and health information about the product mixture.␣For each individual hazardous ingredient, read the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services Hazardous Substance Fact Sheet, available on the RTK Program website (www.nj.gov/health/eoh/rtkweb) or in your facility's RTK Central File or Hazard Communication Standard file.␣You have a right to this information under the New Jersey Worker and Community Right to Know Act and the Public Employees Occupational Safety and Health (PEOSH) Act if you are a public worker in New Jersey, and under the federal Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) if you are a private worker.␣The New Jersey Right to Know Act requires most employers to label chemicals in the workplace and requires public employers to provide their employees with information concerning chemical hazards and controls. The federal OSHA Hazard Communication Standard (29 CFR 1910.1200) and the PEOSH Hazard Communication Standard (N.J.A.C. 12:100-7) require employers to provide similar information and training to their employees.This Fact Sheet is a summary of available information regarding the health hazards that may result from exposure. Duration of exposure, concentration of the substance and other factors will affect your susceptibility to any of the potential effects described below.Acute Health EffectsThe following acute (short-term) health effects may occur immediately or shortly after exposure to Methyl Alcohol:␣Contact can cause skin irritation. ␣Methyl Alcohol can irritate the eyes and can cause blurredvision and blindness. ␣Inhaling Methyl Alcohol can irritate the nose, throat andlungs causing coughing, wheezing and/or shortness ofbreath. ␣Methyl Alcohol can cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea andabdominal pain. ␣Exposure to high concentrations can cause headache,dizziness, drowsiness, fatigue, loss of consciousness and death.Chronic Health EffectsThe following chronic (long-term) health effects can occur at some time after exposure to Methyl Alcohol and can last for months or years: Cancer Hazard ␣There is no evidence that Methyl Alcohol causes cancer in animals. This is based on test results presently available to the NJDHSS from published studies. Reproductive Hazard ␣Methyl Alcohol may be a TERATOGEN in humans since it is a teratogen in animals. Other Effects ␣Prolonged or repeated contact can cause a skin rash, dryness, redness and cracking of the skin.␣Methyl Alcohol may damage the liver, kidneys and nervous system.Medical TestingFor frequent or potentially high exposure (half the PEL or greater), the following are recommended before beginning work and at regular times after that:␣Liver function tests If symptoms develop or overexposure is suspected, thefollowing are recommended:␣Kidney function tests ␣Exam of the nervous system ␣Exam of the eye and vision.Any evaluation should include a careful history of past and present symptoms with an exam. Medical tests that look for damage already done are not a substitute for controlling exposure.Request copies of your medical testing. You have a legal right to this information under the OSHA Access to Employee Exposure and Medical Records Standard (29 CFR 1910.1020).Mixed Exposures␣More than light alcohol consumption can cause liver damage. Drinking alcohol can increase the liver damage caused by Methyl Alcohol.MedicalHealth Hazard InformationMETHYL ALCOHOLPage 3 of 6Workplace Controls and PracticesVery toxic chemicals, or those that are reproductive hazards or sensitizers, require expert advice on control measures if a less toxic chemical cannot be substituted. Control measures include: (1) enclosing chemical processes for severely irritating and corrosive chemicals, (2) using local exhaust ventilation for chemicals that may be harmful with a single exposure, and (3) using general ventilation to control exposures to skin and eye irritants. For further information on workplace controls, consult the NIOSH document on Control Banding at www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/ctrlbanding/.The following work practices are also recommended:␣Label process containers. ␣Provide employees with hazard information and training. ␣Monitor airborne chemical concentrations. ␣Use engineering controls if concentrations exceedrecommended exposure levels. ␣Provide eye wash fountains and emergency showers. ␣Wash or shower if skin comes in contact with a hazardousmaterial. ␣Always wash at the end of the workshift. ␣Change into clean clothing if clothing becomescontaminated. ␣Do not take contaminated clothing home. ␣Get special training to wash contaminated clothing. ␣Do not eat, smoke, or drink in areas where chemicals arebeing handled, processed or stored. ␣Wash hands carefully before eating, smoking, drinking,applying cosmetics or using the toilet.In addition, the following may be useful or required:␣Before entering a confined space where Methyl Alcohol may be present, check to make sure that an explosive concentration does not exist.The OSHA Personal Protective Equipment Standard (29 CFR 1910.132) requires employers to determine the appropriate personal protective equipment for each hazard and to train employees on how and when to use protective equipment.The following recommendations are only guidelines and may not apply to every situation.Gloves and Clothing ␣Avoid skin contact with Methyl Alcohol. Wear personalprotective equipment made from material that can not be permeated or degraded by this substance. Safety equipment suppliers and manufacturers can provide recommendations on the most protective glove and clothing material for your operation.␣The recommended glove materials for Methyl Alcohol are Butyl, Viton and Barrier®.␣The recommended protective clothing materials for Methyl Alcohol are Tychem® SL, CSM and TK; and Trellchem® HPS and VPS, or the equivalent.␣All protective clothing (suits, gloves, footwear, headgear) should be clean, available each day, and put on before work.Eye Protection␣Wear indirect vent goggles when working with liquids that may splash, spray or mist. A face shield is also required if the liquid is severely irritating or corrosive to the skin and eyes.␣Do not wear contact lenses when working with this substance.Respiratory Protection Improper use of respirators is dangerous.  Respirators should only be used if the employer has implemented a written program that takes into account workplace conditions, requirements for worker training, respirator fit testing, and medical exams, as described in the OSHA Respiratory Protection Standard (29 CFR 1910.134).␣Where the potential exists for exposure over 200 ppm, use a NIOSH approved supplied-air respirator with a full facepiece operated in a pressure-demand or other positive-pressure mode. For increased protection use in combination with an auxiliary self-contained breathing apparatus or an emergency escape air cylinder.␣Exposure to 6,000 ppm is immediately dangerous to life and health. If the possibility of exposure above 6,000 ppm exists, use a NIOSH approved self-contained breathing apparatus with a full facepiece operated in a pressure- demand or other positive-pressure mode equipped with an emergency escape air cylinder.If employees are expected to fight fires, they must be trained and equipped as stated in the OSHA Fire Brigades Standard (29 CFR 1910.156).␣Methyl Alcohol is a FLAMMABLE LIQUID. ␣Use dry chemical, CO2, water spray or alcohol-resistantfoam as extinguishing agents. ␣Water may not be effective in fighting fires. ␣POISONOUS GASES ARE PRODUCED IN FIRE. ␣CONTAINERS MAY EXPLODE IN FIRE. ␣Use water spray to keep fire-exposed containers cool. ␣Vapor is heavier than air and may travel a distance to causea fire or explosion far from the source and flash back. ␣Methyl Alcohol may form an ignitable vapor/air mixture inclosed tanks or containers.Fire HazardsPersonal Protective EquipmentMETHYL ALCOHOLPage 4 of 6Spills and EmergenciesOccupational Health InformationResourcesIf employees are required to clean-up spills, they must be properly trained and equipped. The OSHA Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response Standard (29 CFR 1910.120) may apply.If Methyl Alcohol is spilled or leaked, take the following steps:␣Evacuate personnel and secure and control entrance to the area.␣Eliminate all ignition sources. ␣Absorb liquids in dry sand, earth, or a similar material andplace into sealed containers for disposal. ␣Ventilate area of spill or leak. ␣Keep Methyl Alcohol out of confined spaces, such assewers, because of the possibility of an explosion. ␣It may be necessary to contain and dispose of MethylAlcohol as a HAZARDOUS WASTE. Contact your state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) or your regional office of the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for specific recommendations.Prior to working with Methyl Alcohol you should be trained on its proper handling and storage.␣Methyl Alcohol reacts violently or explosively with OXIDIZING AGENTS (such as PERCHLORATES, PEROXIDES, PERMANGANATES, CHLORATES, NITRATES, CHLORINE, BROMINE and FLUORINE); ALKYL ALUMINUM SALTS; ACETYL BROMIDE; CHROMIC ANHYDRIDE; MIXTURES of CHLOROFORM and SODIUM HYROXIDE; PHOSPHORUS TRIOXIDE; MIXTURES of SULFURIC ACID and HYDROGEN PEROXIDE; ISOCYANATES; METALS (such as LEAD, MAGNESIUM and POTASSIUM); and NITRIC ACID.␣Methyl Alcohol attacks some PLASTICS, RUBBERS and COATINGS.␣Store in tightly closed containers in a cool, well-ventilated area away from HEAT SOURCES.␣Sources of ignition, such as smoking and open flames, are prohibited where Methyl Alcohol is used, handled, or stored.␣Metal containers involving the transfer of Methyl Alcohol should be grounded and bonded.␣Use explosion-proof electrical equipment and fittings wherever Methyl Alcohol is used, handled, manufactured, or stored.␣Use only non-sparking tools and equipment, especially when opening and closing containers of Methyl Alcohol.The New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services, Occupational Health Service, offers multiple services in occupational health. These services include providing informational resources, educational materials, public presentations, and industrial hygiene and medical investigations and evaluations.For more information, please contact:New Jersey Department of Health & Senior Services Right to Know Program PO Box 368 Trenton, NJ 08625-0368Phone: 609-984-2202 Fax: 609-984-7407 E-mail: rtk@doh.state.nj.us Web address: http://www.nj.gov/health/eoh/rtkweb The Right to Know Hazardous Substance Fact Sheets are not intended to be copied and sold for commercial purposes .Handling and StorageMETHYL ALCOHOL GLOSSARYACGIH is the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists. They publish guidelines called Threshold Limit Values (TLVs) for exposure to workplace chemicals.Acute Exposure Guideline Levels (AEGLs) are established by the EPA. They describe the risk to humans resulting from once-in-a lifetime, or rare, exposure to airborne chemicals.Boiling point is the temperature at which a substance can change its physical state from a liquid to a gas.A carcinogen is a substance that causes cancer. The CAS number is unique, identifying number, assigned bythe Chemical Abstracts Service, to a specific chemical.CFR is the Code of Federal Regulations, which are the regulations of the United States government.A combustible substance is a solid, liquid or gas that will burn. A corrosive substance is a gas, liquid or solid that causesdestruction of human skin or severe corrosion of containers.The critical temperature is the temperature above which a gas cannot be liquefied, regardless of the pressure applied.DEP is the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection.DOT is the Department of Transportation, the federal agency that regulates the transportation of chemicals.EPA is the Environmental Protection Agency, the federal agency responsible for regulating environmental hazards.ERG is the Emergency Response Guidebook. It is a guide for emergency responders for transportation emergencies involving hazardous substances.Emergency Response Planning Guideline (ERPG) values provide estimates of concentration ranges where one reasonably might anticipate observing adverse effects.A fetus is an unborn human or animal. A flammable substance is a solid, liquid, vapor or gas that willignite easily and burn rapidly.The flash point is the temperature at which a liquid or solid gives off vapor that can form a flammable mixture with air.IARC is the International Agency for Research on Cancer, a scientific group.Ionization Potential is the amount of energy needed to remove an electron from an atom or molecule. It is measured in electron volts.IRIS is the Integrated Risk Information System database on human health effects that may result from exposure to various chemicals, maintained by federal EPA.Page 5 of 6LEL or Lower Explosive Limit, is the lowest concentration of a combustible substance (gas or vapor) in the air capable of continuing an explosion.mg/m3 means milligrams of a chemical in a cubic meter of air. It is a measure of concentration (weight/volume).A mutagen is a substance that causes mutations. A mutation is a change in the genetic material in a body cell. Mutations can lead to birth defects, miscarriages, or cancer.NFPA is the National Fire Protection Association. It classifies substances according to their fire and explosion hazard.NIOSH is the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. It tests equipment, evaluates and approves respirators, conducts studies of workplace hazards, and proposes standards to OSHA.NTP is the National Toxicology Program which tests chemicals and reviews evidence for cancer.OSHA is the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration, which adopts and enforces health and safety standards.PEOSHA is the New Jersey Public Employees Occupational Safety and Health Act, which adopts and enforces health and safety standards in public workplaces.Permeated is the movement of chemicals through protective materials.ppm means parts of a substance per million parts of air. It is a measure of concentration by volume in air.Protective Action Criteria (PAC) are values established by the Department of Energy and are based on AEGLs and ERPGs. They are used for emergency planning of chemical release events.A reactive substance is a solid, liquid or gas that releases energy under certain conditions.STEL is a Short Term Exposure Limit which is usually a 15- minute exposure that should not be exceeded at any time during a work day.A teratogen is a substance that causes birth defects by damaging the fetus.UEL or Upper Explosive Limit is the highest concentration in air above which there is too much fuel (gas or vapor) to begin a reaction or explosion.Vapor Density is the ratio of the weight of a given volume of one gas to the weight of another (usually Air), at the same temperature and pressure.The vapor pressure is a force exerted by the vapor in equilibrium with the solid or liquid phase of the same substance. The higher the vapor pressure the higher concentration of the substance in air.Right to Know Hazardous Substance Fact SheetCommon Name: METHYL ALCOHOLSynonyms: Carbinol; Methanol; Wood Alcohol CAS No: 67-56-1 Molecular Formula: CH3OH RTK Substance No: 1222Description: Colorless liquid with a slightly sweet, strong odorHAZARD DATAHazard Rating Firefighting Reactivity1 - Health 3 - Fire 0 - ReactivityDOT#: UN 1268 ERG Guide #: 131 Hazard Class: 3 (Flammable liquid)Methyl Alcohol is a FLAMMABLE LIQUID.Use dry chemical, CO2, water spray or alcohol-resistant foam as extinguishing agents.Water may not be effective in fighting fires. POISONOUS GASES ARE PRODUCED IN FIRE.CONTAINERS MAY EXPLODE IN FIRE. Use water spray to keep fire-exposed containers cool. Vapor is heavier than air and may travel a distance tocause a fire or explosion far from the source and flash back.Methyl Alcohol may form an ignitable vapor/air mixture in closed tanks or containers.Methyl Alcohol reacts violently or explosively with OXIDIZING AGENTS (such as PERCHLORATES, PEROXIDES, PERMANGANATES, CHLORATES, NITRATES, CHLORINE, BROMINE and FLUORINE); ALKYL ALUMINUM SALTS; ACETYL BROMIDE; CHROMIC ANHYDRIDE; MIXTURES of CHLOROFORM and SODIUM HYROXIDE; PHOSPHORUS TRIOXIDE; MIXTURES of SULFURIC ACID and HYDROGEN PEROXIDE; ISOCYANATES; METALS (such as LEAD, MAGNESIUM and POTASSIUM); and NITRIC ACID.Methyl Alcohol attacks some PLASTICS, RUBBERS and COATINGS.PHYSICAL PROPERTIES100 to 1,500 ppm 52oF (11oC) 6% 36%867oF (464oC) 1.1 (air = 1) 96 mm Hg at 68oF (20oC) 0.8 (water = 1) Soluble 147oF (64oC) -144oF (-97.8oC) 10.84 eV 32.04SPILL/LEAKSIsolation Distance:Spill: 50 meters (150 feet)Fire: 800 meters (1/2 mile)Absorb liquids in dry sand, earth, or a similar material and place into sealed containers for disposal.Use only non-sparking tools and equipment. Metal containers involving the transfer of MethylAlcohol should be grounded and bonded. Keep Methyl Alcohol out of confined spaces, such assewers, because of the possibility of an explosion.Odor Threshold: Flash Point: LEL: UEL:Auto Ignition Temp: Vapor Density: Vapor Pressure: Specific Gravity: Water Solubility: Boiling Point: Melting Point: Ionization Potential: Molecular Weight:OSHA: NIOSH: ACGIH: IDLH:EXPOSURE LIMITS200 ppm, 8-hr TWA 200 ppm, 10-hr TWA; 250 ppm Ceiling 200 ppm, 8-hr TWA; 250 ppm Ceiling 6,000 ppmGloves: Coveralls:Respirator:PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENTButyl, Viton and Barrier® (>8-hr breakthrough)Tychem® SL, CSM and TK; Trellchem® HPS and VPS (>8-hr breakthrough) Use turn out gear or flash protection if ignition/fire is the greatest hazard.>200 ppm - SCBAThe Protective Action Criteria values are: PAC-1 = 530 ppm PAC-2 = 2,100 ppmEyes: Skin: Inhalation:PAC-3 = 7,200 ppmHEALTH EFFECTSIrritation, blurred vision and blindness. IrritationNose, throat and lung irritation with coughing, wheezing and shortness of breathHeadache, dizziness, drowsiness, loss of consciousness and deathFIRST AID AND DECONTAMINATIONRemove the person from exposure. Flush eyes with large amounts of water for at least 15 minutes. Remove contactlenses if worn. Seek medical attention. Quickly remove contaminated clothing and wash contaminated skin with largeamounts of water. Seek medical attention. Begin artificial respiration if breathing has stopped and CPR if necessary. Transfer promptly to a medical facility.September 2011

#METHANOL is 10% of every #ASPARTAME MOLECULE(Can pose da...

#METHANOL is 10% of every #ASPARTAME MOLECULE(Can pose danger in Transportation causing Accidents to Occur from: #Pilots, #Train_Engineers, #Truck_Drivers, etc.)

[Ed. For every molecule of aspartame - there is a molecule of methanol released. Aspartame is 10% methanol by weight. A diet soda sweetened with aspartame contains 225 mg aspartame - 22.5 mg methanol. ]
MethanolLast Updated: March 15, 2007Rate this ArticleEmail to a ColleagueGet CME/CE for articleSynonyms and related keywords: organic solvent, formaldehyde, formate, alcohol dehydrogenase, ADH, methanol ingestion, methanol toxicity, methanol intoxication, antifreeze ingestion, perfume ingestion, paint solvent ingestion, photocopying fluid ingestion, windshield washing fluid ingestion, shellac ingestion, inhalation of methanol, methanol fumes, methanol poisoning

AUTHOR INFORMATION Section 1 of 10     Author Information  Introduction  Clinical  Differentials  Workup  Treatment  Medication  Follow-up  Miscellaneous  Bibliography

 Author: Kalyani Korabathina, MD, Department of Neurology, University of South Florida College of Medicine
 Coauthor(s): Selim R Benbadis, MD, Professor of Neurology, Director of Comprehensive Epilepsy Program, Departments of Neurology and Neurosurgery, University of South Florida College of Medicine, Tampa General Hospital; David Likosky, MD, Clinical Instructor, Department of Neurology, University of Washington
 Kalyani Korabathina, MD, is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Neurology
 Editor(s): Jonathan S Rutchik, MD, MPH, Assistant Professor, Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, University of California at San Francisco; Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD, Senior Pharmacy Editor, eMedicine;  Nestor Galvez-Jimenez, MD, Program Director of Movement Disorders, Director of Neurology Residency Training Program, Department of Neurology, Division of Medicine, Cleveland Clinic Florida;  Matthew J Baker, MD, Consulting Staff, Collier Neurologic Specialists, Naples Community Hospital; and  Nicholas Lorenzo, MD, Chief Editor, eMedicine Neurology; Consulting Staff, Neurology Specialists and Consultants
 Disclosure Author Information  Introduction  Clinical  Differentials  Workup  Treatment  Medication  Follow-up  Miscellaneous  Bibliography
Background: Methanol, also known as wood alcohol, is a commonly used organic solvent, the ingestion of which has severe potential ramifications. It is a constituent in many commercially available industrial solvents and in poorly adulterated alcoholic beverages. Toxicity usually occurs from intentional overdose or accidental ingestion and results in metabolic acidosis, neurologic sequelae, and even death. Methanol toxicity remains a common problem in many parts of the developing world, especially among members of lower socioeconomic classes.
Sophisticated imaging techniques have enabled a better understanding of the clinical manifestations of methanol toxicity. Additionally, with the improvement in medical therapy, neurological complications are recognized more frequently. This is possible because of early recognition of the toxicity and because of advances in supportive care. Hemodialysis and better management of acid-base disturbances remain the most important improvements.
Pathophysiology: Methanol has a relatively low toxicity. The adverse effects are thought to be from the accumulation of formic acid, a metabolite of methanol metabolism.
Upon ingestion, methanol is quickly absorbed in the gastrointestinal tract and metabolized in the liver. In the first step of degradation, methanol is transformed to formaldehyde via the enzyme alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH). This reaction is slower than the next step, the transformation of formaldehyde to formic acid via the enzyme aldehyde dehydrogenase. This may explain the reason for the latency of symptoms between ingestion and effect. The half-life of formaldehyde is estimated to be 1-2 minutes (Rathi, 2006).
Formic acid is further oxidized to carbon dioxide and water in the presence of tetrahydrofolate. The metabolism of formic acid is very slow; thus, it often accumulates in the body, which results in metabolic acidosis (Rathi, 2006).
The eye damage caused by methanol has been well described; however, the mechanism behind this phenomenon is not well understood. The major damage occurs at the retrolaminar optic nerve with intra-axonal swelling and organelle destruction. Little to no change is seen in the retina (Casarett, 1996).
Methanol also affects the basal ganglia. With severe intoxication, common problems are hemorrhagic and nonhemorrhagic damage of the putamen. This was described initially in 1953, although the clinical syndrome associated with this lesion was not described until more recently (Phang, 1988). As a result, patients can develop parkinsonism or other dystonic/hypokinetic clinical pictures.
The predilection for and mechanism of toxicity to the putamen is not understood. Some postulate that striatal neurons have a varying sensitivity to toxic metabolites of methanol. However, this remains to be proven (LeWitt, 1988).
In addition, cases of axonal polyneuropathy in association with chronic exposure have been reported (Hageman, 1999). Further, motor neuron disease resembling amyotrophic lateral sclerosis has been documented in 1 case report (Chio, 2004).
Mortality/Morbidity:  •  Exact rates of morbidity and mortality from intoxication are not available. •  Prognosis is correlated with the degree of metabolic acidosis (and the quantity of methanol ingested); more severe acidosis confers a poorer prognosis. •  Direct correlation exists between the formic acid concentration and the morbidity and mortality.



CLINICAL Section 3 of 10     Author Information  Introduction  Clinical  Differentials  Workup  Treatment  Medication  Follow-up  Miscellaneous  Bibliography
History: •  Time course ?  Initial symptoms generally occur 12-24 hours after ingestion. ?  The interval between ingestion and the appearance of symptoms is correlated with the volume of methanol ingested and the amount of ethanol concomitantly ingested; competitive inhibition exists between the two (Rathi, 2006). Methanol blood levels peak at 30-90 minutes following ingestion and are often not correlated with time to symptom appearance. The minimal lethal dose in adults is believed to be 1 mg/kg of body weight. ?  In cases of altered mental status and intentional overdose, the diagnosis may be difficult without a high clinical index of suspicion. •  Neurological manifestations ?  Initially, the symptoms from methanol intoxication are similar to those of ethanol intoxication, often with disinhibition and ataxia. ?  Following a latent period, patients may develop headache, nausea, vomiting, or epigastric pain. ?  In later stages, drowsiness may rapidly progress to obtundation and coma. ?  Seizures may occur, generally as a complication of the metabolic derangement or as a result of damage to the brain parenchyma. ?  Methanol appears to affect the basal ganglia, primarily the putamen. With advanced neuroimaging techniques, the putaminal damage is detected much earlier in current practice than in the past. •  Vision loss ?  Blindness from methanol inhalation was described as early as 1910. ?  Formic acid accumulates within the optic nerve, which results in classic visual symptoms of flashes of light and blurring. Subsequently, this may progress to scotomas and scintillations. ?  Vision loss is thought to be caused by interruption of mitochondrial function in the optic nerve, resulting in hyperemia, edema, and optic nerve atrophy. Optic nerve demyelination has also been reported to be due to formic acid destruction of myelin. ?  Patients initially may present with diminished visual acuity, which can progress to scotomata and scintillations. ?  The frank blindness that develops sometimes responds to immediate therapy; however, complete loss of vision is a common sequela.
Physical: Physical examination helps to rule out other causes of altered mental status and visual dysfunction, the 2 most common presenting signs of methanol intoxication. •  General physical examination ?  During the initial phase, individuals may experience effects similar to inebriation with alcohol and thus do not seek medical attention. As symptoms develop, most signs are related to metabolic acidosis manifested as tachycardia, tachypnea, hypertension, and altered mental status. ?  Pulmonary edema and acute respiratory distress may ensue, requiring intubation. ?  With large ingestions, depressed cardiac contractility heralds circulatory collapse and leads to signs of heart failure, cardiac arrhythmias, or both. •  Neurologic examination ?  In addition to the progression from drowsiness to stupor to coma, ocular findings are prominent during a careful neurologic examination. ?  Visual symptoms necessitate a thorough examination of the fundi. ?  Optic disc hyperemia occurs early in the course of the methanol intoxication. ?  Pupillary response to light is compromised and, subsequently, is lost. Little to no retinal damage is observed.
Causes: Methanol intoxication occurs in several discrete populations. •  Accidental overdose can be seen in children. Methanol is found commonly in antifreeze, perfumes, paint solvents, photocopying fluid, and windshield washing fluid, all of which are readily available. •  Alcoholic persons commonly consume methanol as a substitute for ethanol. The excessive consumption of methanol then leads to intoxication. •  In many parts of the developing world, methanol is often a component of "bootlegged alcohol," which is made in rural regions. Because of its low cost, it is often consumed by those in lower socioeconomic classes. •  In the industrial setting, inhalation of methanol fumes is a risk. It is used in the production of formaldehyde and shellac processing. In addition, it is used as an extractant in chemical processes and as a denaturant in ethanol (Rosenstock, 1994). •  Suicide attempts using methanol are uncommon (Jacobsen, 1997).