It is not and cannot be a diet aid because the formaldehyde (from the breakdown of 10% methanol) gets stored in the fat along with some water. The National Soft Drink Association (NSDA) did a 30-page protest in the (Congressional Record, Senate S 5511, 5/7/85) that complained that aspartame was unstable, and that it reduces the levels of seretonin (a substance that gives that 'full' feeling) so aspartame induces a craving for carbohydrates.

The phenyalalanine breaks down into diketopiperazine (DKP), a known brain tumour agent, and is the reason the FDA mandated a PKU warning label for 'PHENYLKETONURICS' - contains phenylalanine' Diketopiperazine was the major impediment to the approval noted in the Searle (the original manufacturer) 'Helling' memo. http://www.dorway.com/secrets.html

The methanol (without ethanol, the natural antidote) breaks down in solution ( Diet Coke, Fresca, Diet Pepsi etc.) into formaldehyde. The human liver also breaks down 'free' methanol from any solution into formaldehyde. The body has difficulty eliminating formaldehyde so it combines some of it with water and stores it in the fat. Formaldehyde not stored in the fat is further converted to formic acid (the same substance as ant-sting poison). See http://www.presidiotex.com/barcelona/

So with each sip EVERY user gets a micro-dose of three poisons which include formaldehyde and formic acid (known carcinogens) combined with DKP, a brain tumour agent. A science report was done on Diet Cokes and the results were evaluated by a reputable food test laboratory, they proved that the methanol => formaldehyde conversion takes place (even in unopened cans cooling off in the refrigerator) and the phenylalanine converted to DKP. See http://www.dorway.com/jcohen.html

See below right-hand column for the components in aspartame that breakdown from the aspartic acid, phenylalanine and methanol.

The list of symptoms were derived from what the FDA notes report is the most complained about substance in their history, at one time comprising around 85% of all complaints.
The total number of complaints that FDA admits to is over 10,000 (a vast understatement because Mission Possible has sent the FDA thousands of reports which they chose to ignore).

The FDA says less than 1% of victims report a problem. This balloons their 10,000 complaints to over a MILLION victims who SHOULD have complained! Please note that either number is significant, especially for a "safe" food additive.

The proponents of aspartame admit to the 10% methanol content but claim that fruit has more methanol. This is probably true, but where they deviate from the truth is that nature included an abundance of ETHANOL in fruit, the natural antidote to methanol poisoning. They omit to tell the public that aspartame has NO ethanol, which is why it is unstable and breaks down into formaldehyde in unopened containers.

Products with aspartame in solution have an approximate 270 day shelf-life if stored below 86 degrees F. Much less when stacked in the sun outside a gas station!

A Nutrasweet Co. comment: "Additionally, the comments about Multiple Sclerosis, Systemic Lupus Erythematosis, and Alzheimer's Disease being linked to aspartame are not true. No one knows what causes these sad diseases, but they existed many years before aspartame came to the market. There has not been an "epidemic." Unfortunately these unsubstantiated statements have frightened individuals and their families."

Nutrasweet also says that the amino acids in aspartame are "natural". They are natural only IN COMBINATION with other amino acids... not isolated as in aspartame.

Dr. Moser, the Nutrasweet spokesman, overstepped the boundary of truth on National TV when he stated aspartame cannot get into the blood and cause seizures. The RAO report, one of 15 "pivotal" (of seventy four) G. D. Searle funded tests, proved that five of seven monkeys fed aspartame-laced milk for a year developed seizures and the seventh one died (but all data on why was "lost"). Dr. Moser privately admitted to Jennifer Cohen (author of the Diet Coke science report):

"..the study should never have been undertaken, much less submitted as legitimate observation. This particular experiment represents an unpardonable breach in methodology." (H. Moser)

The FDA's "pivotal" proof of safety is a bizarre inverted interpretation.What might the other 73 Searle-funded tests reveal? Review the FDA toxicologist Dr. Gross's notarized statements to Senator Metzenbaum concerning brain tumors (http://www.dorway.com/gross.txt) and FDA's Dr. Jerome Bressler' 76 page report of only ONE Searle test, which verifies brain, mammary, ovarian and uterine tumors PLUS shrunken testes (http://www.dorway.com/bressler.txt).

Simply stated... "ASPARTAME is a Pandora's box of chameleon-like toxins and tumor agents that have 92 the FDA acknowledged ways to ruin your life, death being one of them".

Damage caused by aspartame consumption is CUMULATIVE... it adds up with each dose. Too often the FDA mandated warning label "PHENYLKETONURICS: Contains phenylalanine" is hidden or illegally omitted (with impunity)

To read the rest of this report go to: http://www.dorway.com/thetoxins.html