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Food Safety Works Colorado State University Extension
SafeFood Rapid Response Network

SAFEFOOD NEWS - Summer 1999 - Vol 3 / No. 3

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Unsubstantiated Aspartame Alarm

Earlier this year an e-mail blitz left many questioning the safety of Aspartame. Nancy Markle's article linked many disease states to aspartame. The list of diseases included Lupus, Multiple Sclerosis, and Desert Storm Syndrome. Ms. Markle did not divulge her full name or credentials. She did mention that she spoke on this topic during the World Environmental Conference.

As expected, many articles were submitted to "set the record straight." Obviously Monsanto responded and, in summary, stated none of the symptoms Ms. Markle and her "sources" have attributed to aspartame have been substantiated in any clinical scientific studies. Others, not affiliated with Monsanto, presented similar rebuttals.

David Squillacote, M.D., Senior Medical Advisor for the Multiple Sclerosis Foundation, was asked to look into the allegations raised by Ms. Markle and report on them. Dr. Squillacote's summary found the series of allegations by Ms. Markle almost totally without foundation. They are rabidly inaccurate and scandalously misinformative. He found no basis for alarm about aspartame, but would recommend (based on one study) those patients being treated for depression let their physicians know they are using aspartame. He noted that one small study (which has not been repeated) did find some worsening of depression when depressed patients took large doses of aspartame. Dr. Squillacote also recommends that patients who have a documented, evaluated adverse reaction to aspartame should avoid its use.

FDA approved the use of aspartame (in 1981 for use in powdered mixes and as a tabletop sweetener; in 1996 for use in all foods and beverages) and stands behind its original approval decision. However, the Agency remains ready to act if credible scientific evidence is presented to it--as would be the case for any product approved by FDA.

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Updated Monday, August 29, 2011