On November 2-3, 1987, the US Senate chamber was sparsely filled, yet it was greatly divided on a life and death issue.
Senators Edward Kennedy, Howard Metzenbaum, and Orrin Hatch sat behind an empty, polished wooden table, while predominant medical researchers, physicians, and consumer attorneys sat facing them in a hollow gallery; their briefcases overflowing with disturbing research documents.
The Senators’ shiny leather shoes gleamed beneath expensive tailored suit cuffs. Everyone’s hair was groomed to perfection.
Senator Hatch reached down to remove a smudge off his shoe; it was hard to tell if these Senators were really interested in the health dangers of aspartame or not. I don’t think they cared a bit.
I’m not into DEI or any of that social BS, but it was interesting that the room was filled with only men, especially because aspartame was, and still is, primarily marketed to women and children.
Just saying.
You won’t be surprised that during these FDA and Senate approval hearings, aspartame’s founder G.D. Searle presented campaign contributions to these Senators and Representatives: Senator Robert Byrd, Democrat, W. Virginia; Senator Orrin Hatch, Republican, Utah; Senator Howell Heflin, Democrat, Alabama; and Representative Henry Waxman, Democrat, California.
The Hearing
Dr. Louis Elsas, M.D., Emory University Medical School Director of Genetics, Professor of Pediatrics, testified before the Senate Committee on Labor and Human Relations that his research showed pregnant women’s blood phenylalanine levels increased from aspartame use, resulting in the placenta magnifying phenylalanine levels four to six times the normal levels.
This resulted in mental retardation and birth defects in his studies.
His full statement is in Sweet Poison, pp 269-271. In his statement submitted to the Committee, Dr. Elsas documented for the record, (sic)
In view of the new (and confirmation of old) research findings, I suggest the following:
- Immediate quantitative labeling of all aspartame-containing foods, so the consumer will know how much phenylalanine he/she is ingesting;
- Declare an immediate moratorium on addition of aspartame to more foods and remove it from all low-protein beverages, foods and children’s medications;
- Provide funds not controlled by industry to:
I request that you:
a) Allow active surveillance for potential side-effects of aspartame on newborns whose mothers dieted with aspartame-containing foods;
b) Allow active evaluation of other users whose complaints cannot be adequately studied at present;
c) Clarify the dose relationship and mechanisms by which L-phenylalanine affects human brain function.
Dr. Elsas told the Senators that, fortunately, these effects on the mature brain may be reversible, and that he could provide clear evidence for a negative effect on sensitive parameters of brain function, such as that of a developing fetus.
He emphasized that he had considerable concern for the increased dissemination and consumption of the sweetener aspartame in the world food supply. He explained to the Senators that normal humans do not metabolize phenylalanine as efficiently as lower species, such as rodents.
This meant that most of the previous studies on aspartame effects on lab rats were irrelevant to the question, “Will aspartame adversely affect human brain function?”
Fast Forward To Today
Knowing that the US Senate and the FDA have been fully aware of the damning health effects of aspartame for decades, aspartame is still on the market today.
Our government agencies, such as the CDC, continue to defend that the causes of fetal deformities remain unknown. But in 1987, Dr. Louis Elsas provided proof to this US Senate Committee that aspartame is a proven cause of fetal deformities.
These US Senators didn’t care.
The Corruption Isn’t New
There is no question that fetal deformities have been on a rapid rise since this failed 1987 Senate Committee Hearing. Autism, ADD/ADHD, hyperactivity, learning disorders, weak vision, and hearing and speech impediments are just a few examples of the increase in childhood disorders. These are all side effects of using aspartame.
Yet, no one mentions that using aspartame during pregnancy is a proven cause.
It is time to resurrect my documents that were presented to the US Senate – research proving aspartame’s harmful health effects.
Put on your fancy suit and shiny shoes …. it’s time to straighten this issue out, once and for all.
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