Hi all -
Is aspartame believed to be absolutely safe? Or are there any particular health concerns?
Hi all -
Is aspartame believed to be absolutely safe? Or are there any particular health concerns?
Well, “absolutely safe” sorta implies that no one would ever, ever have any bad reaction from it. There probably aren’t many kinds of foods or supplements that you can say that about.
Aspartame was, um, linked to brain tumors. Here is the (US) FDA’s paper on it:
Phenylketenurics need to be aware that it contains phenylalanine, which they don’t process well.
Thanks for that - especially the link.
Is there anything from Europe on the issue?
Anti-aspartame information circulates widely. Snopes has a good article on the subject, with links to both pro- and con- aspartame information.
Earl Snake-Hips Tucker, did you bother reading the cite you provided? Aspartame was, um, not linked to brain tumors.
I been using Aspartame ever since it became available… I never use sugar if possible. Let’s see… how many years has it been available? Well I’m still in excellent health!
You can read all kind of silly stories about it.
Same with other chemicals… the world has gone crazy with the fear of chemicals. I worked in chemical plants for 32 years… most the chemicals were on EPA’s Hazardous Chemicals list… that was 13 years ago… like I said I’m in excellent health. :rolleyes:
olefin, I also agree that aspartame is safe for the vast majority of the population, but your reasoning is a fuzzy logic. I’m sure the chemicals you worked with were on the EPA’s Hazardous Chemicals list for good reasons. My father has been smoking cigarettes for over 50 years; that surely doesn’t make cigarette smoking safe. I’m not afraid of all chemicals however. I drink plenty of H2O every day; I’m still fine.
Yes! It was a skill I picked up when I was a child, despite having to refine it in the public school system of the rural South. I posted the FDA link to answer the crackpots who “linked” (I italicized the word to indicate its dubious claim) it to cancer.
Oh lordy - Aspartame is developed by NutraSweet - which is owned by Monsanto??
OMG - that just shows that Aspartame must be bad for health!!
As a side issue - how would one know if one were a phenylketenuric? How rare is it? Is this something I should be tested for before dumping ‘Equal’ in my iced tea?
DarrenS, if you’ve made it far enough in life to post on this message board without having to be on a special diet, you don’t have phenylketonuria. Damage to the brain causes marked mental retardation by the end of the first year of life. Go ahead and enjoy your sweet tea. Phenylketonuria isn’t actually as rare as one might think. One in about every 10,000 babies are born with the condition.
Monsanto…not a case that was ever proved but the lawyers and females collected due to a jury of stupid people. Just another example of people gone crazy with fear of chemicals.
What case was that?