New Zealand bans sugar but not diet soft drinks in schools by 2009, Sue
Kedgley, MP, Green Party: Murray 2006.12.11
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1388

http://www.greens.org.nz/searchdocs/PR10429.html

Diet drinks should be expelled from schools too - Greens

Sue Kedgley MP, Green Party Health Spokesperson
http://www.greens.org.nz/people/kedgley_s.asp?auth=93 Sue Kedgley
sue.kedgley@...,suekedgley@...,

11th December 2006

Children will still be exposed to nutritionless, enamel-destroying soft drinks
with addictive and controversial additives in them despite a voluntary industry
agreement with Government announced today, the Green Party says.

This much touted agreement, made by Coca-Cola Amatil and Frucor, is more about
public relations and spin than public health, Safe Food Spokesperson Sue Kedgley
says.

“It will allow Coca Cola and Pepsi to continue to sell their branded,
nutritionless, caffeine-filled colas in vending machines in schools, and will
keep kids hooked on fizzy drinks,

“I am deeply disappointed that the Health Minister has not followed his British
and French counterparts, and required that all soft drinks are removed from
schools -- not just sugar-filled ones.

"The Green Party outlined in a letter to the Minister evidence of the harmful
effects carbonated diet drinks on children's health, dental health, wellbeing
and behaviour. It is deeply disappointing that this advice appears to have been
ignored and commercial interests have won out,” Ms Kedgley says.

“Sugar free ‘diet’ drinks don’t contain sugar and that’s great. But they are
nutritionally empty, and many contain caffeine, a mildly addictive substance,
which affects the nervous system; can make children hyperactive, irritable and
anxious, and can adversely affect bone health. A can of diet coke contains
approximately 45 mg of caffeine. Children are particularly sensitive to
caffeine’s stimulating effects.

“Diet fizzy drinks displace the drinking of water and milk. They are also highly
acidic and can damage tooth enamel and contribute to dental disease. This is a
serious public health concern with research showing the dental health of New
Zealand children is continuing to deteriorate.

“Diet drinks may also contain controversial additives like aspartame, which has
been linked cancer in animals. It has been linked to a wide range of adverse
reactions in humans as well, including migraines and rashes.

“Given these risks to children’s health, carbonated soft drinks have no place in
schools. Schools should be encouraging children to make healthy choices, not
unhealthy ones and should be following the United Kingdom and other countries in
removing fizzy drinks and sweet cordials from the school environment.”

Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand > Green Library > Press Releases
Copyright © 1996-2006 The Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand
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http://tvnz.co.nz/view/page/411425/925251

Sugary soft drinks banned from schools

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Dec 11, 2006

Full sugar fizzy drinks will be banned from schools by 2009, after the
government reached an agreement with Coca-Cola Amatil NZ and Frucor Beverages to
implement the removal.
[ http://www.ccamatil.com/NewZealand.asp
aus_investor_relations@..., ]

Health Minister Pete Hodgson says the agreement will see the removal of 1.1
million litres of full sugar beverages from schools over the next three years.
He says its a strong step forward and will ensure schools can provide healthier
alternatives for students.

[ http://www.executive.govt.nz/minister/hodgson/index.html
http://www.labour.org.nz/PeteHodgson/index.html
pete.hodgson@...,karen@...,pene@...,
]

Hodgson says it's a world-first and will help fight the global obesity epidemic.

"It's a multimillion dollar issue, without going into specifics, but it's a
certainly a significant investment for us in the future health of New Zealand,"
George Adams of Coca-Cola says

But it is an investment that does not include drinks with artificial sweeteners.

Diet drinks are part of Green MP Sue Kedgley's food cupboard of shame. She says
the government has simply capitulated to big fizzy drink companies who want to
keep their brands visible in schools.

"The government has got this whole healthy eating programme in schools to
encourage health -- these drinks are unhealthy, nutritionless," Kedgley says.

Hodgson says there is no scientific evidence of any significant adverse effects
from a daily intake of artificial sweetener beyond current usage.

"The idea of this initiative is removing calories from drinks that are sold in
schools," Hodgson says.

Frucor Beverages CEO Carl Bergstrom, whose company distributes Pepsi, says there
will be some substitution of sugar-free beverages for the ones which will be
removed.

[ http://www.frucor.com/ Frucor Beverages Group Ltd
http://www.frucor.com/contact/gen.html send email ]

He disputes claims artificial sweeteners are linked to some cancers.

Bergstrom says aspartame has been well-researched and is approved in more than
90 countries and the World Health Organisation.

Drinks containing caffeine will also still be available.

Students say they already have a plan B, saying they will buy their drinks from
shops and bring 1.5 litre bottles to school. They can still bring sugary fizzy
drinks to school because the regulations only apply to what is available at the
tuck shop and in vending machines.

Source: Newstalk ZB/One News

http://tvnz.co.nz/view/page/816462/869443 send email
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short aspartame (methanol, formaldehyde) toxicity research summary:
Murray 2006.12.11
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1379

"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 77 members, 1,388 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

Coca-Cola carcinogenicity in rats, Ramazzini Foundation, F Belpoggi, M
Soffritti, Annals NY Academy Sciences 2006 Sept, parts of 17 pages:
Murray 2006.12.02
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1385

[ For related information and links:

Fiorella Belpoggi & Morando Soffritti of Ramazzini Foundation prove
lifetime carcinogenicity of Coca-Cola, aspartame, and arsenic, Annals
of the NY Academy of Sciences: Murray 2006.11.28
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1382

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1383 aspartame

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1384 arsenic ]


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/1376

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/1378
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/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/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

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1373
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/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@...
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/957
safety of aspartame Part 1/2 12.4.2: EC HCPD-G SCF:
Murray 2003.01.12 rmforall EU Scientific Committee on Food,
a whitewash

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1045
http://www.holisticmed.com/aspartame/scf2002-response.htm
Mark Gold exhaustively critiques European Commission Scientific
Committee on Food re aspartame ( 2002.12.04 ):
59 pages, 230 references

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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