Reply #96: Well I hope that they nail Rummy to the wall on this

[arikara]

Here's a timeline that someone has put a lot of work into of the discovery and shenanigans that it took to get it approved. References are at the end of the article.

http://users.westnet.gr/~cgian/asphistory.txt

History of Aspartame

Before we discuss the other hazardous aspects of aspartame, it can be
helpful to understand the sordid historybehind the approval of
aspartame.

From the article:


"Numerous extensive, and very thorough, clinical investigations
have failed to reveal toxic side- effects of aspartame. A review
of over 100 animal and human studies by the Council on Scientific
Affairs of the American Medical Association (AMA) concluded that
'Consumption of aspartame by normal humans is safe and is not
associated with serious adverse health effects.' (AMA 1985)
Although the AMA frequently errs in its conclusions about
nutrition, medicine, and health in general, I believe they are
accurate in the case of aspartame."

This article, which was printed in the Journal of the American
Medical Association (JAMA), was basically a summary of information
provided by the FDA. After the heading, "Council Report," the article
degenerates into little more than a pro-aspartame fairy tale.
Unfortunately, this fairy tale has turned into a nightmare for
countless individuals. What follows is a short, but much more accurate
history of aspartame.

1964

The development of new pharmaceuticals was the focus of research at
the international pharmaceutical company, G.D. Searle and Company
(Farber 1989, page 29). A group working on an ulcer drug was formed
including Dr. Robert Mazer, James Schlatter, Arthur Goldkemp and
Imperial Chemical. In particular, they were looking for an inhibitor
of the gastrointestinal secretory hormone gastrin (Stegink 1984a, page
3).

1965

In 1965, while creating a bioassay, an intermediate chemical was
synthesized -- aspartylphenylalanine-methyl-ester (aspartame). In
December of 1965, while James Schlatter was recrystalling aspartame
from ethanol, the mixture spilled onto the outside of the flask. Some
of the powder got onto his fingers. Later, when he licked his fingers
to pick up a piece of paper, he noticed a very strong sweet taste. He
realized that the sweet taste might have been the aspartame. So,
believing that the dipeptide aspartame was not likely to be toxic, he
tasted a little bit and discovered its sweet taste (Stegink 1984a,
page 4). The discovery was reported in 1966, but there was no mention
of the sweetness (Furia 1972).

1969

The investigators first reported the discovery of the artificial
sweetener in the Journal of the American Chemical Society stating
(Mazur 1969):

"We wish to report another accidental discovery of an organic
compound with a profound sucrose (table sugar) like taste . . .
Prelminary tasting showed this compound to have a potency of
100-200 times sucrose depending on concentration and on what other
flavors are present and to be devoid of unpleasant aftertaste."

In 1969, former Commissioner of the FDA, Dr. Herbert L. Ley was quoted
as follows (Griffin 1974):

"The thing that bugs me is that people think the Food and Drug
Administration (FDA) is protecting them -- it isn't. What the FDA
is doing and what the public thinks it's doing are as different
as night and day."

1970

The discovery of aspartame is reported in the well-known publication,
Science (Cloninger 1970).

G.D. Searle approached Dr. Harry Waisman, Biochemist, Professor of
Pediatrics, Director of the University of Wisconsin's Joseph P.
Kennedy Jr. Memorial Laboroatory of Mental Retardation Research and a
respected expert in phenylalanine toxicity, to conduct a study of the
effects of aspartame on primates. The study was initiated on January
15, 1970 and was terminated on or about April 25, 1971. Dr. Waisman
died unexpectedly in March, 1971.

Seven infant monkeys were given aspartame with milk. One died after
300 days. Five others (out of seven total) had grad mal seizures. The
actual results were hidden from the FDA when G.D. Searle submitted its
initial applications (Stoddard 1995a, page 6; Merrill 1977; Graves
1984, page S5506 of Congressional Record 1985a; Gross 1976b, page 333
of US Senate 1976b).

G.D. Searle denied knowledge of or involvement with the initiation,
design or performance of the study. Yet, the false results were
submitted to the FDA like the rest of the 150 G.D. Searle studies (on
aspartame and other products), bearing a Searle Pathology-Toxicology
project number. Both Dr. Waisman and G.D. Searle were responsible for
the study design. A number of false statements were made by G.D.
Searle including that the animals were unavailable for purchase for
autopsy after the termination of the study.

Neuroscientist and researcher John W. Olney found that oral intake of
glutamate, aspartate and cysteine, all excitotoxic amino acids, cause
brain damage in mice (Olney 1970).

<snip>

1981

On January 21, 1981, the day after Ronald Reagan takes office as U.S.
President, G.D. Searle reapplied for the approval of aspartame. G.D.
Searle submits several new studies along with their application. It
was believed that Reagan would certainly replace Jere Goyan, the FDA
Comissioner. G.D. Searle president, Donald Rumsfeld's connections to
the Republican party were also thought to play a part in Searle's
decision to reapply for aspartame's approval on the day after Ronald
Reagan was inaugurated (Gordon 1987, page 499 of US Senate 1987).

According to a former G.D. Searle salesperson, Patty Wood- Allott,
G.D. Searle president, Donald Rumsfeld told his salesforce that, if
necessary, "he would call in all his markers and that no matter what,
he would see to it that aspartame would be approved that year."
(Gordon 1987, page 499 of US Senate 1987)

<snip>

much, much more...