*******************************************************

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1323
Merisant aspartame sales plummet in 2005: Gold: Murray 2006.04.04

From: "Dr. Betty Martini,D.Hum." <Bettym19@...>
To: <bettym19@...>
Subject: Merisant, aspartame manufacturer, 2005 Sales Declines
Date: Monday, April 03, 2006 5:19 PM

From: "Mark Gold" <mgold@...>
To: "Dr. Betty Martini, D.Hum." <Bettym19@...>
Subject: Merisant - 2005 Sales Declines
Date: Mon, 3 Apr 2006 19:13:19 -0400

Betty,

Aspartame sales in North America for Merisant down 22%
in 2005 compared to 2004.
They had a 9.3% decrease in North America sales in 2004
compared to 2003. Little blue packets of slow poison
are becoming increasingly unpopular.

This is per figures reported to the U.S. Securities and
Exchange Commission (SEC).
As I have said previously,
companies are *usually* very careful to avoid being dishonest
about figures reported to the SEC.
Figures reported in PR news releases and through company surveys
(e.g. Beverage Digest) can more readily be manipulated.
I believe quarterly and annual reports tend to be a somewhat more
reliable way to determining what is going on with aspartame sales.

Here are more detailed figures from Merisant's Annual Report

sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1270597/000110465906020777/a06-7464_110k.htm

Merisant Worldwide Sales
------------------------

2005 ---------------------------- 2004

1st Quarter: $ 75,900,000 ------- $ 77,800,000
2nd Quarter: $ 79,200,000 ------- $ 90,100,000
3rd Quarter: $ 75,072,000 ------- $ 83,390,000
4th Quarter: $ 74,828,000 ------- $ 96,410,000
--------------------------------------------------
Total: ---- $ 305,000,000 ----- $ 347,700,000

Worldwide sales down $ 42.7 million or 12% in 2005.


Sales By Region
---------------
North America
2004: $ 146,000,000
2005: $ 113,500,000
Down $ 32.5 million or 22%

Europe/Middle East
2004: $ 134,000,000
2005: $ 136,600,000
Up $ 2,600,000 or 2%
Note: The real increase in sales was only $ 500,000 or 0.36%
in Europe/Middle East. The rest of the increase ($ 2,100,000)
was due to currency conversion (i.e., increased value of Euros
compared to dollars).

Sales Breakdown for Europe/Middle East:

France: 36%
United Kingdom/Ireland: 20%
South Africa: 10%
Belgium: 8%
Italy: 6%
All other countries in region: 20%

Latin America
2004: $ 43,000,000
2005: $ 34,500,000
Down $ 9,200,000 or 21%.

Sales Breakdown for Latin America:

Mexico: 57%
Argentina: 17%
Puerto Rico: 8%
All other countries in region: 18%

Asia/Pacific
2004: $ 24,000,000
2005: $ 20,400,000
Down $ 3,700,000 or 15%

Sales Breakdown for Asia/Pacific

Australia/New Zealand: 61%
All other countries in region: 39%

Also, it is important to note that the 4th Quarter 2005
sales of aspartame (compared to 4th Quarter 2004) for Merisant
was down in all regions:
33% down in North America;
7.8% down in Europe/Middle East;
26.7% in Latin America;
27% in Asia/Pacific.
So, it appears that late in 2005,
the trend away from aspartame is increasing.

Assets / Debt
-------------
Total debt for Merisant: $ 538.2 million.
Total assets for Merisant: $ 497.7 million.
As part of an agreement with the lenders,
Merisant must raise an additional $85 million in loans
(thereby putting their debt up to at least $623 million.


Banning Aspartame
-----------------

"Food safety advocates also have sought to ban aspartame through
legislative action.
Argentine, British and French legislators have
called for bans of aspartame,
and in 2005, a bill was introduced in the New Mexico Senate
that would have banned the sale of products
containing aspartame in that state.
The bill was defeated in committee,
but may be reintroduced in subsequent legislative sessions.
Similar legislation was defeated in the Philippines
and the European Parliament."


New Products
------------

"flavor sticks"
"nut and citrus flavored Canderel chocolate bars"
and six other health destroying products
....
"Merisant has developed an all-natural, zero-calorie sweetener that
measures like and has the texture of granulated sugar,
and Merisant hopes to have a limited launch of the product
during the second quarter of 2006.
If the initial product launch is successful, further investment will be
needed in order to launch the product on a larger scale and to develop
and commercialize other all-natural sweeteners and sweetened products.
This innovative product will be marketed under the Sweet SimplicityT
brand for the Whole Earth Sweetener Company LLC,
a newly formed entity and wholly owned subsidiary of Merisant."

[See: http://www.sweetsimplicitysweetener.com/ ]

Not an ideal low calorie sweetener, but certainly better than selling
a slow poison to the general population.
There are much better no calorie sweeteners available
and hopefully they will incorporate them
into their product development plans.

Companies to Contact About Avoiding Aspartame Distribution
----------------------------------------------------------

1. Kruger GmbH & Co.

"Merisant relies upon Kruger GmbH & Co. ("Kruger"),
under an exclusive third party manufacturing contract,
to source a large percentage of the
products in the Europe, Africa, Middle East region.
There are a limited number of manufacturing service suppliers
with the capability and capacity to meet Merisant's
strict product requirements effectively.
Failure by Kruger to manufacture products in accordance
with the third party manufacturing agreement
could result in inventory shortages.
Inventory practices and redundant sourcing contingencies
have been established in the event
of protracted product supply interruptions;
however, regulatory, manufacturing, and replenishment lead times
for contingent sources could extend beyond safety stock coverage,
which would have a negative impact on earnings and cash flows
and impair Merisant's ability to operate its business."

KRUGER GmbH & Co.
Senefelderstrasse 44, 51469 Bergisch Gladbach , Germany
49 02202 1 05 0, 49 02202 1 05 150 fax,
http://www.krueger.de

2. ACH Food Companies, Inc.

Merisant signed a new distribution contract with
"ACH Food Companies, Inc."
which is scheduled to go into effect sometime around August 13, 2006.
ACH is owned by the British food ingredients company,
"Associated British Foods plc."

Now is an excellent time for ACH to give 180 days notice
for termination of their new agreement with Merisant.
They may not be aware that they will be distributing a slow poison
to the general population.
Here is contact information for ACH Food Companies:


http://www.achfood.com/contact.html information@...
ACH Food Companies, Inc.
7171 Goodlett Farms Parkway
Memphis, Tennessee 38016
901.381.3000 800.691.1106 Facsimile: (901) 381-2906
Attention: Vice President, Strategy and Development

Contact information for their parent company,
Associated British Foods plc can be found at:

http://www.abf.co.uk/contact/index.asp
Associated British Foods plc
Weston Centre 10 Grosvenor Street London W1K 4QY
Tel + 44 (0) 207 399 6500 Fax + 44 (0) 207 399 6580
ABFinfo@...

Their web page mentions that one of their divisions is one of the
largest producers of sugar-free, natural sweeteners (sugar alcohols).
They may not know that they will now become one of the world's
larger distributors of poison to the general population.
----------

Best Wishes,

Mark Gold
Aspartame/NutraSweet Toxicity Info Center
12 East Side Dr., #2-18
Concord, NH 03301
603-225-2110
mgold@...
http://www.holisticmed.com/aspartame/
*******************************************************

http://www.sweetsimplicitysweetener.com/consumers.html
wholeearth@... 1.800.958.7337
Whole Earth Sweetener Company
P.O. Box 1392 South Bend, IN 46624

What are the ingredients in Sweet SimplicityT?
Sweet SimplicityT contains erythritol and fructose as its sweetening
ingredients. Small amounts of natural flavors are also added.
A 6-Gram packet contains approximately
5 grams erythritol and 1 gram fructose.

What is erythritol?
Erythritol is a polyol (sugar alcohol)
and belongs to a group of carbohydrate-based sweeteners.
It is a white crystalline powder that is odorless
with a clean, sweet taste that is similar to sucrose.
Erythritol has been part of the human diet for thousands of years
as it is present in such fruits as grapes and melons.
t also can be found in mushrooms and fermented foods
such as wine, soy sauce and cheese.

In what forms is Sweet SimplicityT available?
At this time Sweet SimplicityT is available in packet form only.
There are 30 packets in one box of Sweet SimplicityT.

Where can I buy Sweet SimplicityT?
Sweet SimplicityT can be purchased by calling 1- 800-958-7337.
You can also order Sweet SimplicityT online.

Is Sweet SimplicityT kosher?
Sweet SimplicityT has been certified kosher parve
by the Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations.

How does Sweet SimplicityT compare to other sweeteners?
Sweet SimplicityT is an all-natural, zero-calorie sweetener
that provides a great taste without the guilt of calories.
It is not chemically processed in any way.
In addition, it does not contain artificial sweeteners, preservatives
or artificial flavors and colors,
and its ingredients are certified non-genetically modified.

Can you bake with Sweet SimplicityT?
Yes, you can use Sweet SimplicityT to bake.
Whole Earth Sweetener Company is currently creating recipes
specifically designed using Sweet SimplicityT
and they will be available in the coming months.

Is Sweet SimplicityT FDA approved?
The ingredients in Sweet SimplicityT, erythritol, fructose and natural
flavors are all "generally recognized as safe" (GRAS) by the FDA.

What is the shelf life of Sweet SimplicityT?
Under cool and dry conditions Sweet SimplicityT
has a shelf life of 12 months.


*Sweet SimplicityT products actually contain 3.4 calories.
FDA labeling regulations state that if a serving has less than 5 calories,
it may be labeled as "0" calories.

Does Sweet SimplicityT cause cavities?
Sweet SimplicityT sweetened with erythritol also contains
a carbohydrate source (fructose), so it can contribute to the
development of dental caries.
However, the amount of carbohydrate (less than 1 gram per serving)
is much less than an equivalent serving of sugar
(4 grams of carbohydrate per serving).
*******************************************************


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 2006.04.03

"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@...
505-501-2298 1943 Otowi Road Santa Fe, New Mexico 87505

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/messages
group with 151 members, 1,323 posts in a public, searchable archive
http://RMForAll.blogspot.com http://AspartameNM.blogspot.com

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.

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

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/1291
European Food Safety Authority to decide aspartame safety by May:
caffeine diet drinks cause female hypertension, WC Winkelmayer et al,
JAMA 2005.11.09: PubMed lists 50 items for "diet soft drinks" since
2004 Oct.: Murray 2006.01.24

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/939
aspartame (aspartic acid, phenylalanine) binding to DNA:
Karikas July 1998: Murray 2003.01.05 rmforall
Karikas GA, Schulpis KH, Reclos GJ, Kokotos G
Measurement of molecular interaction of aspartame and
its metabolites with DNA. Clin Biochem 1998 Jul; 31(5): 405-7.
Dept. of Chemistry, University of Athens, Greece
http://www.chem.uoa.gr gkokotos@...;
K.H. Schulpis inchildh@...; G.J. Reclos reklos@...;

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/925
aspartame puts formaldehyde adducts into tissues, Part 1/2
full text Trocho & Alemany 1998.06.26
Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona : Murray 2002.12.22

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1250
aspartame causes cancer in rats at levels approved for humans,
Morando Soffritti et al, Ramazzini Foundation, Italy &
National Toxicology Program
of National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences
2005.11.17 Env. Health Pers. 35 pages: Murray

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1106
hangover research relevant to toxicity of 11% methanol in aspartame
(formaldehyde, formic acid): Calder I (full text): Jones AW:
Murray 2004.08.05 rmforall

Since no adaquate data has ever been published on the exact disposition
of toxic metabolites in specific tissues in humans of the 11% methanol
component of aspartame, the many studies on morning-after hangover
from the methanol impurity in alcohol drinks are the main available
resource to date.

Jones AW (1987) found next-morning hangover from red wine with
100 to 150 mg methanol
(9.5% w/v ethanol, 100 mg/l methanol, 0.01%,
one part in ten thousand).

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/870
Aspartame: Methanol and the Public Interest 1984: Monte:
Murray 2002.09.23

Humans suffer "toxic syndrome" (54) at a minimum lethal dose
of <1 gm/kg, much less than that of monkeys, 3-6 g/kg (42, 59).

The minimum lethal dose of methanol
in the rat, rabbit, and dog is 9.5, 7.0 , and 8.0 g/kg, respectively (43);
ethyl alcohol is more toxic than methanol to these test animals (43)."

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1302
The Lowdown on Sweet? (Ramazzini Foundation, M Soffritti proof that
aspartame causes cancers), Melanie Warner, The New York Times:
Murray 2006.02.12

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1303
David L. Katz MD comments briefly with Diane Sawyer on ABC
Good Morning America re Ramazzini aspartame cancer study:
excellent opus at Yale U: mainstream research on aspartame
(methanol, formaldehyde, formic acid) toxicity: Murray 2006.02.14

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1304
to DL Katz MD, Yale U: M. Soffritti, Ramazzini F., did not mention that
humans are about 10X more vulnerable to aspartame than are rats:
found methanol and formaldehyde carcinogenicity 2002: human ADI
levels must be reduced hugely: Katz: Murray 2006.02.15

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

As a medical layman, I suggest that evidence mandates immediate
exploration of the role of these ubiquitious, potent formaldehyde
sources as co-factors in epidemiology, research, diagnosis,
and treatment in a wide variety of disorders.

Folic acid, from fruits and vegetables, plays a role by powerfully
protecting against methanol (formaldehyde) toxicity.

Many common drugs, such as aspirin, interfere with folic acid,
as do some mutations in relevant enzymes.

The majority of aspartame reactors are female.

In mutual service, Rich Murray
*******************************************************


http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1315
49% consumers want their local store to stock foods free of artificial
sweeteners, Steve French, The Natural Marketing Institute,
NMIsolutions.com: NaturalProductsInsider.com: Murray 2006.03.07

" And consumers are more than eager to support alternative sugar
substitutes, evidenced by the fact that over half of U.S. adults
(58 percent) indicate using artificial sweeteners over the past year,
a steady 25 percent increase in usage since 2002....

However, even with such high usage, half of consumers (55 percent)
are concerned about the negative side effects of artificial sweeteners.
About half of consumers (49 percent) even want their local store to
stock foods that are free from artificial sweeteners,
and a quarter (23 percent) prefer not to serve their family anything
with artificial sweeteners.
Such dichotomies create challenges for companies
throughout the supply chain.
Certain segments of consumers show even stronger conflicting
attitudes, creating even greater challenges for the food and
sweetener industries.

For instance, over three-quarters (78 percent) of consumers who use
organic foods/beverages on a daily basis are concerned about the
negative side effects of artificial sweeteners,
while just under three-quarters (73 percent) also desire foods
with no sugar added.
While 73 percent of diabetics use artificial sweeteners for a diabetic diet,
half (49 percent) are indeed concerned about the negative side effects.
So what's a consumer to do? "

http://www.naturalproductsinsider.com/articles/631feat05.html

Copyright © 2006 by Virgo Publishing. Posted : 03/06/2006

Divergent Sweetener Attitudes Highlight Emerging Opportunities
by Steve French


http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1312
the beginning of the end? USA diet soda volume sales up only 0.4%
last 52 weeks, after years of big jumps -- awareness of aspartame as
toxic methanol, formaldehyde, formic acid source?:
Melanie Warner, New York Times: Murray 2006.03.03


"After milk, eggs, bread and bananas, soda is the highest-volume item in
grocery stores. In recent years, sales of regular soda have been
declining, while sales of diet soda have boomed.
But even more recently, diet soda sales have tapered off,
with unit volumes up just 0.4 percent for the 52 weeks
that ended Jan. 28, according to ACNielsen."
*******************************************************


http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1316
PubMed abstract: aspartame (methanol becoming formaldehyde) causes
many cancers in rats, Ramazzini Foundation, M Soffritti et al:
Murray 2006.03.06

http://www.ehponline.org/members/2005/8711/8711.html free full text

Environ Health Perspect. 2006 Mar; 114(3): 379-85.
First experimental demonstration of the multipotential carcinogenic
effects of aspartame administered in the feed to sprague-dawley rats.
Soffritti M, Belpoggi F, Esposti DD,
Lambertini L, Tibaldi E, Rigano A.
Cesare Maltoni Cancer Research Center, European Ramazzini
Foundation of Oncology and Environmental Sciences, Bologna, Italy.

The Cesare Maltoni Cancer Research Center of the European Ramazzini
Foundation has conducted a long-term bioassay on aspartame (APM),
a widely used artificial sweetener.

APM was administered with feed to 8-week-old Sprague-Dawley rats
(100-150/sex/group), at concentrations of
100,000, 50,000, 10,000, 2,000, 400, 80, or 0 ppm.

The treatment lasted until natural death, at which time
all deceased animals underwent complete necropsy.

Histopathologic evaluation of all pathologic lesions and of all organs
and tissues collected was routinely performed
on each animal of all experimental groups.

The results of the study show for the first time that APM,
in our experimental conditions, causes
a) an increased incidence of malignant-tumor-bearing animals
with a positive significant trend in males (p </= 0.05)
and in females (p </= 0.01),
in particular those females treated at 50,000 ppm (p </= 0.01);

b) an increase in lymphomas and leukemias
with a positive significant trend in both males (p </= 0.05)
and females (p </= 0.01),
in particular in females treated at doses of
100,000 (p </= 0.01), 50,000 (p </= 0.01), 10,000 (p </= 0.05),
2,000 (p </= 0.05), or 400 ppm (p </= 0.01);

c) a statistically significant increased incidence,
with a positive significant trend (p </= 0.01),
of transitional cell carcinomas of the renal pelvis and ureter and their
precursors (dysplasias) in females treated at
100,000 (p </= 0.01), 50,000 (p </= 0.01), 10,000 (p </= 0.01),
2,000 (p </= 0.05), or 400 ppm (p </= 0.05);

and d) an increased incidence of malignant schwannomas
of peripheral nerves with a positive trend (p </= 0.05) in males.

The results of this mega-experiment indicate that APM
is a multipotential carcinogenic agent,
even at a daily dose of 20 mg/kg body weight,
much less than the current acceptable daily intake. [ 50 mg/kg bw ]

On the basis of these results,
a reevaluation of the present guidelines
on the use and consumption of APM is urgent
and cannot be delayed.

Key words: artificial sweetener, aspartame, carcinogenicity,
lymphomas, malignant schwannomas, rats, renal pelvis carcinomas.
PMID: 16507461 Feb 24 2006 04:49:50

Address correspondence to M. Soffritti, Cesare Maltoni Cancer
Research Center, European Ramazzini Foundation of Oncology and
Environmental Sciences, Castello di Bentivoglio, Via Saliceto, 3,
40010 Bentivoglio, Bologna, Italy. 39-051-6640460
Fax: 39-051-6640223 crcfr@...
We thank the U.S. National Toxicology Program for convening a group
of pathologists at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences
to provide a second opinion for a set of malignant lesions and their
precursors related to aspartame treatment, and for their help in statistical
analysis.
We also thank all of the staff involved in the project.
This research was supported by the European Ramazzini Foundation of
Oncology and Environmental Sciences.
The authors declare they have no competing financial interests.
Received 3 October 2005; accepted 16 November 2005.


http://www.ehponline.org/members/2005/8711/tab1.jpg
[ transcribed to plain text ]
Table 1. Beverages and diet products studied at the CMCRC/ERF:
status of studies.

Study---------------------------No. of bioassays
---Products-------------------------Species---------No. Study status

1 Water in
polyvinyl chloride bottles---------2 rat a--------------2,200 P b

2 Coca-Cola---------------------4 rat a--------------1,999 RP

3 Pepsi Cola----------------------1 rat-----------------400 E

4 Ethyl alcohol--------------------4 rat, mouse a------1,458 P c

5 Sucrose-------------------------1 rat-----------------400 E

6 Aspartame (APM)--------------6 rat, mouse a------4,460 BO, PP d

7 Sucralose (Splenda)-------------1 mouse *-----------760 BO

8 Caffeine-------------------------1 rat-----------------800 E

9 Vitamin A-----------------------5 rat----------------5,100 E

10 Vitamin C----------------------5 rat----------------3,680 E

11 Vitamin E----------------------5 rat----------------3,680 E

12 Feed sterilized by--------------1 rat a---------------2,000 E
gamma radiation

Total-----------------------------36-------------------26,937

Abbreviations:
BO, biophase ongoing
E, in elaboration
P, published
PP, partially published
RP, ready for publication
a, treatment started from embryonic life
b, data from Maltoni et al. (1997)
c, data from Soffritti et al. (2002a)
d, data from Soffritti et al. (2005).
*, data from Soffritti et al. (1992)


Investigations into the metabolism of APM have shown that,
in rodents, nonhuman primates, and humans,
it is metabolized in the gastrointestinal tract into three constituents --
aspartic acid, phenylalanine, and methanol --
which are absorbed into the systemic circulation (Ranney et al. 1976).

For each molecule of APM,
one molecule of each constituent is produced.

After absorption, they are then used, metabolized, and/or excreted by
the body following the same metabolic pathways
as when consumed through the ordinary diet:

aspartate is transformed into alanine plus oxaloacetate (Stegink 1984);

phenylalanine is transformed mainly into tyrosine and, to a smaller extent,
phenylethylamine and phenylpyruvate (Harper 1984);

and methanol is transformed into formaldehyde and then to formic acid
(Opperman 1984).
*******************************************************

Morando Soffritti 1, Fiorella Belpoggi 1, Davide Degli Esposti 1, Luca
Lambertini 1, Eva Tibaldi 1,
and Anna Rigano 1
1 Cesare Maltoni Cancer Research Center,
European Ramazzini Foundation of Oncology and
Environmental Sciences, Bologna, Italy
Address of the institution:
Cesare Maltoni Cancer Research Center,
European Ramazzini Foundation of Oncology and Environmental Sciences.
Castello di Bentivoglio, Via Saliceto, 3, 40010 Bentivoglio, Bologna, Italy
+39/051/6640460 Fax +39/051/6640223 crcfr@...

Address correspondence to
Dr. M. Soffritti, M.D., Scientific Director of the Cesare Maltoni
Cancer Research Center,
European Ramazzini Foundation of Oncology and Environmental
Sciences.
Castello di Bentivoglio, Via Saliceto, 3, 40010 Bentivoglio, Bologna, Italy
+39/051/6640460 Fax +39/051/6640223 crcfr@...

Acknowledgements: A special thanks to the
US National Toxicology Program (NTP)
for convening a group of pathologists at NIEHS
in order to provide a second opinion
for a set of lesions of malignancies and their precursors
related to the APM treatment, and for the help in statistical analysis.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1250
aspartame causes cancer in rats at levels approved for humans,
Morando Soffritti et al, Ramazzini Foundation, Italy &
National Toxicology Program of National Institute of Environmental
Health Sciences 2005.11.17 Env. Health Pers. 35 pages: Murray

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1226
USA National Institutes of Health National Toxicology
Program aids eminent Ramazzini Foundation, Bologna, Italy,
in more results on cancers in rats from lifetime low levels
of aspartame (methanol, formaldehyde), Felicity Lawrence,
www.guardian.co.uk: Murray 2005.09.30

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1186
aspartame induces lymphomas and leukaemias in rats, full plain text,
M Soffritti, F Belpoggi, DD Esposti, L Lambertini: Ramazzini
Foundation study 2005.07.14: main results agree with their previous
methanol and formaldehyde studies: Murray 2005.09.03

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1189
Michael F Jacobson of CSPI now and in 1985 re aspartame
toxicity, letter to FDA Commissioner Lester Crawford;
California OEHHA aspartame critique 2004.03.12; Center for
Consumer Freedom denounces CSPI: Murray 2005.07.27

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1016
President Bush & formaldehyde (aspartame) toxicity:
Ramazzini Foundation carcinogenicity results Dec 2002:
Soffritti: Murray 2003.08.03 rmforall

p. 88 "The sweetening agent aspartame hydrolyzes in the gastrointestinal
tract to become free methyl alcohol, which is metabolized in the liver
to formaldehyde, formic acid, and CO2. (11)"
Medinsky MA & Dorman DC. 1994; Assessing risks of low-level
methanol exposure. CIIT Act. 14: 1-7.

Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2002 Dec; 982: 87-105.
Results of long-term experimental studies on the carcinogenicity of
formaldehyde and acetaldehyde in rats.
Soffritti M, Belpoggi F, Lambertin L,
Lauriola M, Padovani M, Maltoni C.
Cancer Research Center, European Ramazzini Foundation for Oncology
and Environmental Sciences, Bologna, Italy. crcfr@...
Formaldehyde was administered for 104 weeks in drinking water
supplied ad libitum at concentrations of
1500, 1000, 500, 100, 50, 10, or 0 mg/L
to groups of 50 male and 50 female Sprague-Dawley rats beginning at
seven weeks of age.
Control animals (100 males and 100 females) received tap water only.
Acetaldehyde was administered to 50 male and 50 female
Sprague-Dawley rats beginning at six weeks of age at concentrations of
2,500, 1,500, 500, 250, 50, or 0 mg/L.
Animals were kept under observation until spontaneous death.
Formaldehyde and acetaldehyde were found to produce an increase
in total malignant tumors in the treated groups
and showed specific carcinogenic effects on various organs and tissues.
PMID: 12562630

Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2002 Dec; 982: 46-69.

Results of long-term experimental studies on the carcinogenicity of
methyl alcohol and ethyl alcohol in rats.
Soffritti M, Belpoggi F, Cevolani D,
Guarino M, Padovani M, Maltoni C.
Cancer Research Center, European Ramazzini Foundation for Oncology
and Environmental Sciences, Bologna, Italy. crcfr@...
Methyl alcohol was administered in drinking water
supplied ad libitum at doses of
20,000, 5,000, 500, or 0 ppm to groups of male and female
Sprague-Dawley rats 8 weeks old at the start of the experiment.
Animals were kept under observation until spontaneous death.
Ethyl alcohol was administered by ingestion in drinking water at a
concentration of 10% or 0% supplied ad libitum to groups of male and
female Sprague-Dawley rats; breeders and offspring were included in
the experiment.
Treatment started at 39 weeks of age (breeders), 7 days before mating,
or from embryo life (offspring) and lasted until their spontaneous death.
Under tested experimental conditions, methyl alcohol and ethyl alcohol
were demonstrated to be carcinogenic for various organs and tissues.
They must also be considered multipotential carcinogenic agents.
In addition to causing other tumors, ethyl alcohol induced malignant
tumors of the oral cavity, tongue, and lips.
These sites have been shown to be target organs in man by
epidemiologic studies.
Publication Types: Review Review, Tutorial PMID: 12562628
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