From Dr. Betty Martini, D.Hum.
Bettym19@mindspring.com
10-6-5
Aspartame Industry Looking To Block NM Hearings
By Jackie Jadrnak
Albuquerque Journal Staff Writer
10-6-5
SANTA FE - Gov. Bill Richardson doesn't think the federal government is doing enough to protect the public from possible dangers of aspartame.
He said Wednesday that he supports a decision this week by the Environmental Improvement Board to hold hearings next summer on the safety of the sugar substitute, commonly known as Equal or NutraSweet. It is an ingredient in about 6,000 products.
Asked if he is concerned aspartame may be harmful, Richardson answered, "Yes, from what I've learned." Critics of the sweetener have claimed it causes cancers and other health problems, despite the fact that it has been approved as safe in countries around the world.
T. J. Trujillo, Santa Fe attorney for a low calorie products industry group, said Wednesday he and his clients are still exploring whether they have any grounds for an immediate appeal to block the hearing. In the meantime, industry representatives will reach out to New Mexico government officials and policy advisers, he said. "We want to figure out their positions and work for a resolution."
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration, which is responsible for determining the safety of food additives, approved aspartame in l981. Richardson said he doesn't want New Mexico to overstep its bounds.
But "I'm not saying we can't do anything about it," he added. Hearings next July might give some idea of what steps New Mexico should and could take, he said.
FDA spokeswoman Kimberly Rawlings said officials there are aware of the New Mexico board's action and are keeping an eye on what happens next.
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Note From Betty Martini -
People interested in banning aspartame from your state you need to check on statutes on poisonous substances and adulteration. I would suspect they are the same in other states and countries. You have a precedent set. Let's get aspartame off this planet. I think its of interest that attorneys for Calorie Control Council, the aspartame industry front group, said they are exploring whether they have grounds for appeal to block the hearing. Since they push this toxin as safe, they should embrace this hearing. What are they afraid of? Perhaps the thousands and thousands of victims who are invited to New Mexico to testify? Or maybe because now Italian researchers who declared malignant brain tumors, lymphoma and leukemia after a three year study have now added kidney cancer among other cancers. They call aspartame a "multipotential carcinogen".
This goes along with what the FDA's own toxicologist, the late Dr. Adrian Gross, told Congress. He said aspartame violated the Delaney Amendment which forbid putting anything in food you know will cause cancer because without a shadow of a doubt aspartame can cause brain tumors and brain cancer. However, in original studies it also caused mammary, ovarian, testicular, pancreatic and thyroid tumors, for starters!
As we know, the Governor of California has outlawed pop in schools there. We hope Governor Richardson will now do the same in New Mexico, including any product with aspartame.
Join the Aspartame Information List on http://www.wnho.net, click on aspartame for more information and also http://www.dorway.com Aspartame Toxicity Center, http://www.holisticmed.com/aspartame Also http://www.aspartamekills.com
Dr. Betty Martini, D.Hum.
Founder, Mission Possible Intl
9270 River Club Parkway
Duluth, Georgia 30097
770 242-2599
