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{{POV|date=November 2008}} |
{{POV|date=November 2008}} |
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According to a 2007 safety evaluation, the weight of existing evidence indicates that aspartame is safe at current levels of consumption as a non-nutritive sweetener.<ref name=CritReview/> The [[artificial sweetener]] [[aspartame]] has been the subject of public [[controversy]] regarding its safety since 1974.<ref name=GAO87/><ref>{{cite news |url=http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/washingtonpost_historical/access/125899752.html?dids=125899752:125899752&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT| publisher= ''[[Washington Post]]''|title=Controversy Surrounds Sweetener|first=Carole | last=Sugarman|date=1983-07-03|accessdate = 2008-11-25|pages=D1-2}}</ref> Some scientific studies, combined with allegations of [[Conflict of interest|conflicts of interest]] in the approval process have been the focus of vocal activism and conspiracy theories regarding the possible risks of aspartame.<ref name=MAN_Markle/><ref name=Hawaii/><ref name=urbanlegends/> |
According to a 2007 safety evaluation, the weight of existing evidence indicates that aspartame is safe at current levels of consumption as a non-nutritive sweetener.<ref name=CritReview/> The [[artificial sweetener]] [[aspartame]] has been the subject of public [[controversy]] regarding its safety since 1974.<ref name=GAO87/><ref>{{cite news |url=http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/washingtonpost_historical/access/125899752.html?dids=125899752:125899752&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT| publisher= ''[[Washington Post]]''|title=Controversy Surrounds Sweetener|first=Carole | last=Sugarman|date=1983-07-03|accessdate = 2008-11-25|pages=D1-2}}</ref> Some scientific studies, combined with allegations of [[Conflict of interest|conflicts of interest]] in the approval process have been the focus of vocal activism and conspiracy theories regarding the possible risks of aspartame.<ref name=MAN_Markle/><ref name=Hawaii/><ref name=urbanlegends/> To date, no research outside of the aspartame industry has found aspartame to be safe for human consumption.<ref>http://www.nature.com/ejcn/journal/vaop/ncurrent/abs/ejcn200838a.html European Journal of Clinical Nutrition 11 June 2008; doi: 10.1038/ejcn.2008.38</ref> |
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The [[conspiracy theory|conspiracy theories]], claims of aspartame dangers, and the source of those claims have been the subject of critical examination.<ref name=MAN_Markle>[http://www.media-awareness.ca/english/resources/educational/teaching_backgrounders/internet/decon_web_pages.cfm Deconstructing Web Pages] - An exercise deconstructing a web page to determine its credibility as a source of information, using the aspartame controversy as the example.</ref> In 1987, the US Government Accountability Office concluded that the food additive approval process had been followed for aspartame.<ref name=GAO87>GAO 1987. [http://www.gao.gov/docdblite/info.php?rptno=HRD-87-46 "Food Additive Approval Process Followed for Aspartame"] United States General Accounting Office, GAO/HRD-87-46, June 18, 1987</ref> Based on government research reviews and recommendations from advisory bodies such as the [[European Commission]]’s Scientific Committee on Food and the [[Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives]], aspartame has been found to be safe for human consumption by more than ninety countries world-wide.<ref name="Health Canada">[[Health Canada]]: {{cite web |url=http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/fn-an/securit/addit/sweeten-edulcor/aspartame-eng.php |title=Aspartame - Artificial Sweeteners |accessdate=2008-11-08}}</ref><ref name=FSANZ>[[Food Standards Australia New Zealand]]: {{cite web |url=http://www.foodstandards.gov.au/newsroom/factsheets/factsheets2007/aspartameseptember203703.cfm |title=Food Standards Australia New Zealand: Aspartame (September 2007) |accessdate=2008-11-08}}</ref> In 1999 Jon Henkel reported that the [[U.S. Food and Drug Administration]] scientists believe that the safety of aspartame is "clear cut" and "one of the most thoroughly tested and studied food additives the agency has ever approved."<ref>[http://www.fda.gov/fdac/features/1999/699_sugar.html FDA Consumer magazine November - December 1999]</ref> Disagreement among FDA scientists does exist, which lead to public statements about the dangers of aspartame consumption.<ref>Testimony of Dr Jacqueline Verrett, FDA Toxicologist before the US Senate Committee on Labor and Human Resources, (November 3, 1987).</ref><ref>Eating May Be Hazardous To Your Health - The Case Against Food Additives by J. Verrett J.carper, published by Simon & Schuster</ref><ref>Statement from Dr. Adrian Gross, Former FDA Investigator and Scientist, Aspartame Safety Act," Congressional Record, Volume 131, No. 106, August 1, 1985, page S10835-S10840.</ref> As of 2008, however, concerns still exist among some scientists over aspartame's role in certain mental disorders, compromised learning, and emotional functioning,<ref name=pmid17684524>{{cite journal |author=Humphries P, Pretorius E, Naudé H |title=Direct and indirect cellular effects of aspartame on the brain |journal=European Journal of Clinical Nutrition |volume=62 |issue=4 |pages=451–62 |year=2008 |month=April |pmid=17684524 |doi=10.1038/sj.ejcn.1602866 |url=}}</ref> as well as different forms of cancer<ref name=pmid16507461/> although other scientists are not concerned.<ref name=CritReview>{{cite journal |author=Magnuson BA, Burdock GA, Doull J, ''et al'' |title=Aspartame: a safety evaluation based on current use levels, regulations, and toxicological and epidemiological studies |journal=Crit. Rev. Toxicol. |volume=37 |issue=8 |pages=629–727 |year=2007 |pmid=17828671 |doi=10.1080/10408440701516184 |url=}}</ref> {{POV-statement|date=December 2008}} |
The [[conspiracy theory|conspiracy theories]], claims of aspartame dangers, and the source of those claims have been the subject of critical examination.<ref name=MAN_Markle>[http://www.media-awareness.ca/english/resources/educational/teaching_backgrounders/internet/decon_web_pages.cfm Deconstructing Web Pages] - An exercise deconstructing a web page to determine its credibility as a source of information, using the aspartame controversy as the example.</ref> In 1987, the US Government Accountability Office concluded that the food additive approval process had been followed for aspartame.<ref name=GAO87>GAO 1987. [http://www.gao.gov/docdblite/info.php?rptno=HRD-87-46 "Food Additive Approval Process Followed for Aspartame"] United States General Accounting Office, GAO/HRD-87-46, June 18, 1987</ref> Based on government research reviews and recommendations from advisory bodies such as the [[European Commission]]’s Scientific Committee on Food and the [[Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives]], aspartame has been found to be safe for human consumption by more than ninety countries world-wide.<ref name="Health Canada">[[Health Canada]]: {{cite web |url=http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/fn-an/securit/addit/sweeten-edulcor/aspartame-eng.php |title=Aspartame - Artificial Sweeteners |accessdate=2008-11-08}}</ref><ref name=FSANZ>[[Food Standards Australia New Zealand]]: {{cite web |url=http://www.foodstandards.gov.au/newsroom/factsheets/factsheets2007/aspartameseptember203703.cfm |title=Food Standards Australia New Zealand: Aspartame (September 2007) |accessdate=2008-11-08}}</ref> In 1999 Jon Henkel reported that the [[U.S. Food and Drug Administration]] scientists believe that the safety of aspartame is "clear cut" and "one of the most thoroughly tested and studied food additives the agency has ever approved."<ref>[http://www.fda.gov/fdac/features/1999/699_sugar.html FDA Consumer magazine November - December 1999]</ref> Disagreement among FDA scientists does exist, which lead to public statements about the dangers of aspartame consumption.<ref>Testimony of Dr Jacqueline Verrett, FDA Toxicologist before the US Senate Committee on Labor and Human Resources, (November 3, 1987).</ref><ref>Eating May Be Hazardous To Your Health - The Case Against Food Additives by J. Verrett J.carper, published by Simon & Schuster</ref><ref>Statement from Dr. Adrian Gross, Former FDA Investigator and Scientist, Aspartame Safety Act," Congressional Record, Volume 131, No. 106, August 1, 1985, page S10835-S10840.</ref> As of 2008, however, concerns still exist among some scientists over aspartame's role in certain mental disorders, compromised learning, and emotional functioning,<ref name=pmid17684524>{{cite journal |author=Humphries P, Pretorius E, Naudé H |title=Direct and indirect cellular effects of aspartame on the brain |journal=European Journal of Clinical Nutrition |volume=62 |issue=4 |pages=451–62 |year=2008 |month=April |pmid=17684524 |doi=10.1038/sj.ejcn.1602866 |url=}}</ref> as well as different forms of cancer<ref name=pmid16507461/> although other scientists are not concerned.<ref name=CritReview>{{cite journal |author=Magnuson BA, Burdock GA, Doull J, ''et al'' |title=Aspartame: a safety evaluation based on current use levels, regulations, and toxicological and epidemiological studies |journal=Crit. Rev. Toxicol. |volume=37 |issue=8 |pages=629–727 |year=2007 |pmid=17828671 |doi=10.1080/10408440701516184 |url=}}</ref> {{POV-statement|date=December 2008}} |