11 members of New Mexico legislature sign letter to ban aspartame as a
source of toxic methanol and formaldehyde, Stephen Fox, NM Senator
Gerald Ortiz y Pino: Murray 2006.10.22
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1378

http://www.prweb.com/releases/2006/10/prweb453464.htm
http://pdfserver.prweb.com/pdfdownload/453464/pr.pdf

All Press Releases for October 21, 2006

NM Legislators Ask President Bush, FDA's Von Eschenbach, and US Health
Secretary Leavitt to Rescind FDA Approval for Artificial Sweetener
Aspartame

This request is based on 25 years of medical evidence about the harm
that it has done, and is included in a letter which is the subject of
the press release, which includes the complete text of the United
Kingdom Member of Parliament from Wales, Roger Williams about the
effects of formaldehyde internally, and the fact that in 1979,
aspartame was considered by the Pentagon as a biochemical weapon, yet
today is found in 6000 USA food products and 500 children's
medications.

(PRWEB) October 21, 2006 -- In an October 18, 2006 letter, 11 members
of the New Mexico Legislature have requested President Bush, President
George Walker Bush, Andrew Von Eschenbach, M.D.,FDA Commissioner
nominee, and Michael Okerkund Leavitt, United States Secretary of
Health and Human Services, to rescind the approval for Aspartame, the
artificial sweetener, due to its metabolites as methanol and
formaldehyde

stating that, "when Aspartame is heated, it becomes a proven brain
tumor-causing agent, diketopiperazine. Aspartame is now found in 6000
USA food products and more than 500 medications, including "Diet"
sodas, "Low Fat" Yogurt, Sugarless Chewing Gum, and other USA
products."

The letter from the Legislators cites in full the letter from 46
members of the United Kingdom Parliament, dated January 30, 2006 by
Roger Williams, the Member of Parliament from Radnorshire, Wales,
stating:

"This House expresses deep concern over the numerous independent
toxicological studies and thousands of subjective reports attesting to
the toxic effects of the artificial sweetener aspartame on human
health; notes that aspartame, once patented as a biochemical warfare
agent, is the synthetically produced methyl ester of a dipeptide which
is readily broken down in the gut to release methanol; further notes
that in naturally occurring foodstuff methanol is either not released
into the body or present together with natural defence mechanisms that
mitigate its toxic effects; recognises that methanol is a well known
poison and is further converted into formaldehyde, a class A carcinogen
according to the World Health Organization's International Agency for
Research on Cancer; accepts that severe health concerns occur from the
gradual accumulation of formaldehyde in the body which cannot be
excreted and that further research has shown that long term low level
exposure to formaldehyde inc
udes leukaemia and nasopharyngeal cancer in humans; acknowledges that
of the 155 studies conducted on aspartame's safety deemed relevant to
humans, 92 percent of independently sponsored studies found unanimously
in favour of aspartame's safety; and urges the Government to abide by
the precautionary principle and make use of Statutes 13 and 16 of the
1990 Food Safety Act to remove aspartame from the permitted list of
additives on the United Kingdom market."

The New Mexico Legislators informed Mr. Bush, Dr. Von Eschenbach, and
Mr. Leavitt that they have the obligation "to prevent further
neurological damage to the 70% of Americans and 40% of our American
children who consume Aspartame...and to protect the health of many
other nations...," which is "preferable that Bush, Von Eschenbach, and
Leavitt do this, rather than the United States Senate having to later
make rescinding FDA approval for Aspartame and other deleterious and
poisonous substances a condition upon which Dr. Von Eschenbach's
nomination approval is contingent."

The Legislators noted that the President's concerns should not be with
corporate objections and continued allegations that their products are
"safe."

Their letter concluded by stating that: "It is unacceptable that a
chemical considered in 1979 by the Pentagon for a biochemical warfare
agent two years later be approved for adding to 6000 USA food products
and more than 500 medications, including children's vitamins and
aspirin."

The letter was also signed by:

Senator John Pinto, Chairman, Indian and Cultural Affairs
Senator Carlos Cisneros, Chairman Conservation Committee
Senator Leonard Tsosie, Member, Finance Committee
Representative Rick Miera, Chair, House Education Committee
Representative Ray Begaye, Vice Chair, Agriculture and Water Resources
Representative Bobby Gonzales, Vice Chair, House Taxation and Revenue
Committee
Representative Sheryl Williams Stapleton, House Majority Whip
Representative Harriet Ruiz Chair, Enrolling and Engrossing
Representative Richard Vigil, Vice Chair, House Education Committee
Representative W.C. Williams, Member, House Education Committee

If anyone has any questions call Senator Gerald Ortiz y Pino
505-250-1280 or Stephen Fox at 505-983-2002.
*******************************************************

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1305
Aspartame buys time, New Mexico State Senator Gerald Ortiz y Pino:
Murray 2006.02.18

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1234
Not so sweet (aspartame): Jerry Ortiz y Pino, NM State Senator,
D-Albuquerque: Fox: Murray 2005.10.14

http://legis.state.nm.us/lcs/legdetails.asp?Name=309&Submit=Search
[ photo ]

Senator: Gerald Ortiz y Pino
District: 12
County(s): Bernalillo
Party: Democrat
Occupation: Social Worker
Address: 400 12th Street NW
Albuquerque, NM 87102
Capitol Office Phone: 505-986-4380
Office Phone: 505-265-3717
Home Phone: 505-243-1509
E-mail: jortizyp@aol.com, jerry@alibi.com

Bills Sponsored by Session

Committee Membership

Advisory  COURTS, CORRECTIONS & JUSTICE COMMITTEE (Interim)

Member  ELECTION REFORM TASK FORCE (Interim)

Advisory  INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE
(Interim)

Member  INTERIM LEGISLATIVE ETHICS COMMITTEE
(Interim)

Member  LAND GRANT COMMITTEE (Interim)

Advisory  LEGISLATIVE HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE
(Interim)

Member  PUBLIC AFFAIRS

Member  RULES

Member  WELFARE REFORM OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE (Interim)
*******************************************************

"Of course, everyone chooses, as a natural priority,
to actively find, quickly share, and positively act upon the facts
about healthy and safe food, drink, and environment."

Rich Murray, MA  Room For All  rmforall@comcast.net
505-501-2298  1943 Otowi Road   Santa Fe, New Mexico 87505

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/messages
group with 77 members, 1,378 posts in a public, searchable archive
http://RMForAll.blogspot.com

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1340
aspartame groups and books: updated research review of 2004.07.16:
Murray 2006.05.11

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1374
47 UK Members of Parliament now support aspartame ban initiative
of Roger Williams, MP: Murray 2006.10.16

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1306
ban aspartame speech, Roger Williams MP, UK Parliament 2005.12.14:
www.TheyWorkForYou.com: Murray 2006.02.20

www.additivesout.org.uk Additives Survivors' Network (UK)
additivesout@cableinet.co.uk
Geoff Brewer geoffbrewer@eurobell.co.uk
63 Downlands Road, DEVIZES, Wiltshire, SN10 5EF UK
Joanna Clarke BSc. AIBMS MIBiol. CBiol.
asn@brewer.wanadoo.co.uk
Scottish Co-ordinator Additives Survivors' Network
35 Hamilton Drive, GLASGOW, G12 8DW

http://members.tripod.com/~mission_possible/scotland_branch.html
Alan Law webmaster@mission_possible_mail.zzn.com
Thurso, Caithness KW14 7SH United Kingdom

http://www.fedupwithfoodadditives.info/ an excellent group
These web pages provide:
independent information about the effects of food on behaviour,
health and learning ability in both children and adults.
support for families using a low-chemical elimination diet free of
additives, low in salicylates, amines and flavour enhancers (FAILSAFE)
for health, behaviour and learning problems.
Food Intolerance Network, Sue Dengate sdengate@ozemail.com.au
http://www.fedupwithfoodadditives.info/biodata.htm

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1094
the 11% methanol component of aspartame becomes formaldehyde,
now ruled a carcinogen by WHO International Agency
for Research on Cancer: Murray 2004.06.16

"Survey of aspartame studies: correlation of outcome and funding
sources," 1998, unpublished: http://www.dorway.com/peerrev.html
Walton found 166 separate published studies in the peer reviewed
medical literature, which had relevance for questions of human safety.
The 74 studies funded by industry all (100 %) attested to aspartame's
safety, whereas of the 92 non-industry funded studies, 84 (91 %)
identified a problem. Six of the seven non-industry funded studies
that were favorable to aspartame safety were from the FDA, which
has a public record that shows a strong pro-industry bias.
Ralph G. Walton, MD, Prof. of Clinical Psychology, Northeastern Ohio
Universities, College of Medicine, Dept. of Psychiatry, Youngstown,
OH 44501, Chairman, The Center for Behavioral Medicine,
Northside Medical Center, 500 Gypsy Lane, P.O. Box 240
Youngstown, OH 44501 330-740-3621 rwalton193@aol.com
http://www.neoucom.edu/DEPTS/Psychiatry/walton.htm

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/805
Ive: UK Daily Mirror Magazine: aspartame toxicity:
Murray 2002.02.18

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1271
combining aspartame and quinoline yellow, or MSG and brilliant blue,
harms nerve cells, eminent C. Vyvyan Howard et al, 2005
education.guardian.co.uk, Felicity Lawrence: Murray 2005.12.21

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1277
50% UK baby food is now organic -- aspartame or MSG
with food dyes harm nerve cells, CV Howard 3 year study
funded by Lizzy Vann, CEO, Organix Brands,
Children's Food Advisory Service: Murray 2006.01.13

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1279
all three aspartame metabolites harm human erythrocyte [red blood cell]
membrane enzyme activity, KH Schulpis et al, two studies in 2005,
Athens, Greece, 2005.12.14: 2004 research review, RL Blaylock:
Murray 2006.01.14

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1366
toxicity in rat brains from aspartame, Vences-Mejia A, Espinosa-Aguirre
JJ et al 2006 Aug: Murray 2006.09.06

aspartame rat brain toxicity re cytochrome P450 enzymes, expecially
CYP2E1, Vences-Mejia A, Espinosa-Aguirre JJ et al, 2006 Aug,
Hum Exp Toxicol: relevant abstracts re formaldehyde from methanol
in alcohol drinks: Murray 2006.09.29
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1373

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1376
soft drinks and adolescent hyperactivity, mental distress, conduct
problems, Lars Lien, Nanna Lien, Sonja Heyerdahl, Mayne Thoresen, Espen
Bjertness 2006 Oct., A J Pub Health: Murray 2006.10.21

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1375
healthy diet, vitamins, and fish oil help reduce depression and
violence, studies by Joseph Hibbeln, Bernard Gesch, and Stephen
Schoenthaler, articles by Felicity Lawrence in UK Guardian Unlimited
and Pat Thomas in The Ecologist: Murray 2006.10.21

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1369
Bristol, Connecticut, schools join state program to limit artificial
sweeteners, sugar, fats for 8800 students, Johnny J Burnham, The
Bristol Press: Murray 2006.09.22

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1341
Connecticut bans artificial sweeteners in schools, Nancy Barnes,
New Milford Times: Murray 2006.05.25

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1353
carcinogenic effect of inhaled formaldehyde, Federal Institute of Risk
Assessment, Germany -- same safe level as for Canada:
Murray 2006.06.02

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1352
Home sickness -- indoor air often worse, as our homes seal in
pollutants
[one is formaldehyde, also from the 11% methanol part of aspartame],
Megan Gillis, WinnipegSun.com: Murray 2006.06.01

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1143
methanol (formaldehyde, formic acid) disposition: Bouchard M
et al, full plain text, 2001: substantial sources are
degradation of fruit pectins, liquors, aspartame, smoke:
Murray 2005.04.02

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1349
NIH NLM ToxNet HSDB Hazardous Substances Data Bank
inadequate re aspartame (methanol, formaldehyde, formic acid):
Murray 2006.08.19

http://toxnet.nlm.nih.gov/cgi-bin/sis/search/f?./temp/~HwoSfJ:1
HSDB  Hazardous Substances Data Bank: Aspartame

ASPARTAME   CASRN: 22839-47-0
METHANOL  CASRN: 67-56-1
FORMALDEHYDE   CASRN: 50-00-0
FORMIC ACID  CASRN: 64-18-6

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1307
formaldehyde from 11% methanol part of aspartame or from red wine
causes same toxicity (hangover) harm: Murray 2006.05.24

Dark wines and liquors, as well as aspartame, provide
similar levels of methanol, above 120 mg daily, for
long-term heavy users, 2 L daily, about 6 cans.

Within hours, methanol is inevitably largely turned into formaldehyde,
and thence largely into formic acid --  the major causes of the dreaded
symptoms of "next morning" hangover.

Fully 11% of aspartame is methanol -- 1,120 mg aspartame
in 2 L diet soda, almost six 12-oz cans, gives 123 mg
methanol (wood alcohol). If 30% of the methanol is turned
into formaldehyde, the amount of formaldehyde, 37 mg,
is 18.5 times the USA EPA limit for daily formaldehyde in
drinking water, 2.0 mg in 2 L average daily drinking water.

Any unsuspected source of methanol, which the body always quickly
and largely turns into formaldehyde and then formic acid, must be
monitored, especially for high responsibility occupations, often with
night shifts, such as pilots and nuclear reactor operators.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1052
DMDC: Dimethyl dicarbonate 200mg/L in drinks adds methanol 98 mg/L
( becomes formaldehyde in body ):  EU Scientific Committee on Foods
2001.07.12:  Murray 2004.01.22

http://www.HolisticMed.com/aspartame    mgold@holisticmed.com
Aspartame Toxicity Information Center    Mark D. Gold
12 East Side Drive #2-18 Concord, NH 03301     603-225-2100

http://www.holisticmed.com/aspartame/abuse/methanol.html
"Scientific Abuse in Aspartame Research"

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1371
Russell L. Blaylock, MD discusses MSG, aspartame, excitotoxins
with Mike Adams: Murray 2006.09.27

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1372
Mike Adams interviews Randall Fitzgerald on "The Hundred Year Lie:
How Food and Medicine are Destroying Your Health" 2006.06.21:
Murray 2006.09.28
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