Aspartame Rumors
For: Hard Facts About Soft Drinks, January
2002
Don't believe the rumors—widely spread on the Internet—that aspartame (the artificial sweetener sold under the names Nutra-Sweet or Equal) causes not only multiple sclerosis, but also lupus, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease, diabetes, Gulf War syndrome, and brain tumors.
Like other recent Internet-based health "alerts," this one is designed to scare the pants off you—Internet terrorism. It was circulated via e-mail by an unidentified source (in this case, someone called "Nancy Markle"). The document is packed with gobbledygook, strange anecdotes, misused jargon, mysterious doctors selling quack theories, and impressive-sounding organizations that may or may not exist.
Reputable multiple sclerosis groups and other expert organizations have denounced the rumors. Aspartame has been more intensively studied than almost any other food additive. Leading authorities, including the FDA, AMA, and the World Health Organization, have concluded that it is safe. Aspartame's only real danger is for people with phenylketonuria, an uncommon genetic disorder—which these e-mails never even mentioned.
UC Berkeley Wellness Letter, April 1999
