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http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1333
European Food Safety Authority aspartame press conference
webcast 6 AM EST Friday May 5: Murray 2006.05.04

http://www.flyonthewall.com/FlyBroadcast/efsa.eu.int/AspartamePressConference/

info@...

Live and on-demand webcast of the EFSA Aspartame Press Conference

Background

The Scientific Panel on Food Additives, Flavourings, Processing Aids and
Materials in Contact with Food has carried out an assessment of the new
carcinogenicity study on the sweetener aspartame by the Ramazzini Foundation
in Bologna.

On 5 May 2006, EFSA will present the AFC Panel's conclusions live at this
press conference in Rome.

Speakers:

Anne-Laure Gassin - EFSA Director of Communications
Dr. Herman Koëter - EFSA Acting Executive Director
Dr. Susan Barlow - Chair of the AFC Panel
Dr. Iona Pratt - Chair of the Working Group on aspartame

http://www.flyonthewall.com/FlyBroadcast/efsa.eu.int/AspartamePressConference/in\
dex.php?stream=wmv&PHPSESSID=5ce502f4685a3783a3e148c6bd6f074a


Agenda (all times CET) http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/
The time is six hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time 6 AM,
nine hours ahead of Pacific Standard Time 3 AM.

11.00 h Opening by Anne Laure Gassin, EFSA's Communications' Director
(Chair of the Press Conference),
introduction of speakers and of the subject,
focus on EFSA's role and mission

11.05 h Presentation by Herman Koeter, EFSA's Acting Executive Director
Introduction of the background and chronology,
EFSA's risk assessment process on aspartame,
previous studies

11:15 h Presentation by Sue Barlow,
Chair of the The Scientific Panel on Food Additives, Flavourings, Processing
Aids and Materials in Contact with Food (AFC)
Introduction of the AFC Panel and its work;
how the Panel has evaluated the data and how the Panel came to its final
conlusions

11:25 h Presentation by Iona Pratt, Chair of the Working Group
Results of the evaluation and final conclusions

11:35 h Question time for journalists

12.00 h Closing by Anne-Laure Gassin and end of the Press Conference


Anne-Laure Gassin -- EFSA Director of Communications
+390521036248 Anne-Laure.Gassin@...


Dr. Herman Koëter -- EFSA Acting Executive Director
+390521036205Herman.Koeter@...

http://www.efsa.eu.int/about_efsa/structure/who_is_who/130_en.html

From November 26, Dr. Herman Koëter currently EFSA's Deputy Executive
Director and Director of Science, will assume the function of Acting
Executive Director. He will have responsibility for the day-to-day running
of the Authority in the interim period until a successor to EFSA's last
Executive Director, Geoffrey Podger, has been found and takes up the post.

Dr. Herman Koëter, was appointed as Director of Science and Deputy Executive
Director in 2003 for five years. Herman brings very relevant knowledge and
experience to his post, coming from a background in scientific work.

Most recently he has directed the Test Guidelines Programme, the Programme
on the Harmonisation of Classification and Labelling of chemical substances
and mixtures for the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development
(OECD) where he has worked since 1991.

Before working for the OECD, Herman worked at the Toxicology and Nutrition
Institute, part of the Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific
Research (TNO), for 24 years in a number of scientific and managerial roles.


Dr. Susan Barlow -- Chair of the AFC Panel suebarlow@...

http://www.efsa.eu.int/science/afc/afc_members/101/cv_afc_barlow1.pdf

Title and Name: Dr Susan Barlow
Nationality: British
Education:
· BSc (Hons) in Physiological Studies 1969 University of Birmingham, UK
· PhD in Pharmacology 1972 University of London
· Diploma in Toxicology of The Royal College of Pathologists 1983
· UK Register of Toxicologists 1995, EUROTOX Registered Toxicologist 1997
Present organisation and position:
· Independent Consultant in Toxicology
Experience in risk assessment, scientific research:
· Fourteen years' experience in reproductive toxicology research,
followed by 14 years as a regulatory toxicologist in the UK Department of
the Environment and Department of Health.
Worked as an independent consultant since 1996.
· Involved nationally and internationally in risk assessment of industrial
and environmental chemicals, consumer products, pesticides, biocides, food
additives, contaminants and packaging materials, novel foods and processes.
Member of EC Scientific Committee on Food (1993-03),
Medical & Toxicology Panel of the UK Advisory Committee on Pesticides,
UK Biocides Consultative Committee,
Safety Working Group of the Veterinary International Co-operation on
Harmonisation,
WHO/IPCS Steering Group on Endocrine Disrupters.


Dr. Iona Pratt - Chair of the Working Group on aspartame

http://www.irishscientist.ie/2003/contents.asp?contentxml=03p34.xml&contentxsl=i\
s03pages.xsl
"Acrylamide - a new food safety issue"
Dr Iona Pratt, Food Safety Authority of Ireland,
Abbey Court, Lower Abbey Street, Dublin 1;
Tel: 01-8171300; Fax 01-8171301; E-mail: ipratt@... ; Web: www.fsai.ie

http://www.efsa.eu.int/science/afc/afc_members/101/cv_afc_pratt1.pdf
Dr. Iona Pratt (IRL) - new member
Chief Specialist in Toxicology, Food Safety Authority of Ireland
Dr. Iona Pratt
Experience in risk assessment,
scientific research
. Experience in risk assessment of food additives, contaminants and residues
in Irish food,
including sweeteners, fluoride in infant formula, acrylamide and
semicarbazide,
veterinary drug residues
and pesticides, dioxins and PCBs.
. Experience in risk assessment of industrial chemicals
("existing chemicals") such as acrylonitrile,
carried under Regulation 793/93,
and chemicals of relevance for worker safety,
as a member of the DG Employment Scientific Committee on Occupational
Exposure Limits (SCOEL).
Involvement in the development of principles for risk assessment under
Regulation 793/93.
. Research experience includes investigations into the nephrotoxicity of
therapeutic and industrial chemicals,
in vitro and in vivo models for sarcoidosis and other fibrotic lung disease,
mechanisms of paraquat-induced lung fibrosis and diquat-induced
gastrointestinal damage.
This work utilised a variety of different experimental techniques,
including in vivo animal studies and in vitro cell culture models.
Present organisation and position
Food Safety Authority of Ireland
Chief Specialist in Toxicology
Education
. BA (Mod.) in Natural Sciences (Trinity College Dublin)
. Ph.D in Biochemistry/Medical Sciences (Trinity College Dublin)
. Diploma of the UK Royal College of Pathologists (Toxicology)
. Diploma in Occupational Safety and Health (University College Dublin)
Nationality Irish


http://www.efsa.eu.int/science/afc/afc_members/catindex_en.html

Members of the Panel on food additives, flavourings, processing aids and
materials in contact with food [AFC]
Last updated: 13 December 2005
The Panel on food additives, flavourings, processing aids and materials in
contact with food deals with questions of safety in the use of food
additives, flavourings, processing aids and materials in contact with food;
with associated subjects concerning the safety of other deliberately added
substances to food and with questions related to the safety of processes.

Members (Biographies)

Dr. Susan Margaret BARLOW (UK) - Chair of the AFC Panel
Prof. Dr. Robert Henri Eugène ANTON (FR)
Dr. Dimitrios BOSKOU (GR)
Dr. Laurence CASTLE (UK)
Dr. Riccardo CREBELLI (IT)
Prof. Dr. Wolfgang DEKANT (DE)
Prof. Dr. Karl-Heinz ENGEL (DE)
Dr. Stephen James FORSYTHE (UK)
Dr. Werner GRUNOW (DE)
Prof. Marina HEINONEN (FI)
Dr. John Christian LARSEN (DK)
Dr. Catherine LECLERCQ (IT)
Dr. Wilhelmus C. MENNES (NL)
Dr. Maria Rosaria MILANA (IT)
Dr. Iona PRATT (IE)
Prof. Dr. Ivonne Magdalena Catharina Maria RIETJENS (NL)
Dr. Kettil SVENSSON (SE)
Prof. Dr. Paul P.G. TOBBACK (BE)
Prof. Dr. Fidel TOLDRA (ES)

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http://www.efsa.eu.int/about_efsa/contact_us/catindex_en.html contact

http://www.efsa.eu.int/advisory_forum/catindex_en.html Advisory Forum


Last updated: 07 April 2006
The Advisory Forum is EFSA's consultative body.
Made up of representatives from each of the Member States'
national food agencies or other national authorities
with a remit similar to that of EFSA,
it is chaired by the Executive Director.
To ensure independence, these representatives cannot
also be members of the Authority's Management Board.
A representative of the European Commission also participates
in meetings of the Advisory Forum with observer status.
Tasks of the Forum include advising the Executive Director in general and
advising on scientific matters, priorities and the work programme.
The Forum also forges close links between EFSA and the 25 EU Member States.
The goal is to build strong collaborative networking between EFSA and the
national
food agencies and authorities working in the fields of risk assessment and
communication.
This forum also facilitates the sharing of information and
collaboration between the national authorities themselves.
To drive forward its work programme,
the Forum has established two working groups.
The Communications group focuses on enhancing the coherence of food
safety messages across the Community.
Its job is to reinforce collaboration between all those involved in
communications
in the Member States' national food agencies and administrations.
The Information Technology group will seek to identify ways of using IT
tools
to support information exchange and collaboration among the EU food safety
network, created by EFSA and its Advisory Forum.
Under consideration are links between websites, tools for document sharing
and construction of a common repository for scientific and technical
information.
Since the establishment of EFSA, the Advisory Forum has held seven meetings
in different capitals of Europe.
The Advisory Forum will organise an event in 2004 aimed at fostering greater
public understanding of its role and function.

Related Links
Österreichische Agentur für Gesundheit und Ernährungssicherheit GmbH
L'Agence Fédérale pour la Sécurité de la Chaîne Alimentaire
SPF Santé publique, Sécurité de la Chaîne alimentaire et Environnement
Institute of Food and Veterinary Research (DFVF)
Finnish National Food Agency
Agence francaise de sécurité sanitaire des aliments (AFSSA)
Bundesinstitut für Risikobewertung
EFET Greece
Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI)
Ministry of Health (Italy)
Comité de Coordination en Matière de Sécurité Alimentaire (Luxembourg)
Agência para a Qualidade e Segurança Alimentar (Portugal)
La Agencia Española de Seguridad Alimentaria (AESA) (Spain)
Swedish National Food Administration
Voedsel en Waren Autoriteit
Food Standards Agency (FSA)
State Food and Veterinary Service of Lithuania
Chief Sanitary Inspectorate (Poland)
State Veterinary and Food Administration of Slovak Republic
Lettonie Food and Veterinary Service
Ministry of Agriculture of Ceska Republika (CZ), Food Safety Department
Umhverfisstofnun (Observateur)
Vitenskapskomiteen for mattrygghet - VKM (Observateur)
Bundesamt für Gesundheit (Observateur)
Swedish Agriculture Board
Swedish Chemicals Inspectorate

Publication date: 23 February 2004


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IMPORTANT LEGAL NOTICE - Information on this site is subject to a disclaimer
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http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1330
aspartame toxicity decision May 5 European Food Safety Authority re
July 2005 Ramazzini 7-year study on 1800 rats proving many cancers,
Ahmed ElAmin FoodProductionDaily.com: Murray 2006.04.28


http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1328
migraine from sucralose, Bigal ME & Krymchantowski AV,
Headache 2006 March; formaldehyde from 11% methanol part of
aspartame or from red wine causes same toxicity (hangover) harm:
Murray 2006.05.04

"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 152 members, 1,333 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).
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