I was driving from OC in California back to Seattle yesterday and was listening to NPR on Siruis which I’m completely addicted to. There was a brilliant interview with author and Professor Devra Davis who recently published The Secret History of the War on Cancer which I’m probably going to buy. The show was called “Chemicals, Cancer and You” – follow the link to listen to it.
She chatted about the history of Aspartame, the sweetener in most diet sodas. Kerry (my wife) has been drinking diet soda for years (and talking about quitting for years) and after hearing the interview she’s just dumped all her remaining soda and is moving to iced tea with unrefined sugar (evaporated cane juice).
The Aspartame discussion is towards the end of the interview – perhaps 15 minutes before the end.
G. D. Searle and Co developed Aspartame in 1965. In the 1970’s the safety of Aspartame came into question after Tumors were found in rats that had been given aspartame. A grand jury was convened to investigate the drug. They never finished their work. In fact several senior people who worked for the FDA and who were involved with the investigation were recruited by Searle and the investigation into the health risks associated with Aspartame simply went away.
The guy behind it all? Searle’s Chief Operating Officer, Donald H Rumsfeld.
Man that guy is so evil!
Commented on October 12, 2007 at 1:00 pm
This report questioning the safety of aspartame is garbage. Read aspartame.net, or Snopes.com for the truth. Aspartame is safe; there are no scientifically acceptable, valid studies to the contrary, Soffritti included!
John E. Garst, Ph.D.
(medicinal chemistry, pharmacology, and toxicology)
Commented on October 13, 2007 at 10:07 am
Ever considered drinking water?
Commented on October 19, 2007 at 1:47 am
I have looked repeatedly in Medline for adverse articles concerning aspartame and have found nothing convincing. I am no defender of corporations, but in this case the critics need to do some better research. And laypeople need to stop believing everything they hear.
(med student, graduate background in biomedical science)
Commented on November 15, 2007 at 8:18 pm