More Aspartame, Vanishing Bees and a Killer Cocktail - NewsGrabs 29 April 2007
CategoriesHealth Supreme News Grabs - a selection of alternative health news and related bits of information ... a window on emerging trends.
In this issue:
Latest on US Senate bill S 1082 - How plants make vitamin C - GM Foods Unsafe? - Philippines Forbids Aspartame - Sainsbury's: no aspartame - Aspartame Cancer Risk - Aspartame Safety Questioned - Aspartame: Letter to FDA - Consumers back drug reforms - FDA Fails - Pharma Business Of Health - Petition to investigate Statins - Michael Moore Flick 'Sicko' - Doctors get money from industry - US FDA: The Hercules Solution - Zyprexa-Diabetes Data - Meds to blame for Cho's rampage? - A Killer Cocktail - Protecting Bees From Radiation - Mobile Phones and Vanishing Bees - Mystery of Disappearing Honeybees - Risk Of Autism In Children Using Cell Phones? - Establishment Rethinks Globalization - How to kill pests without killing yourself - H2CAR could fuel transportation - Economic Armageddon - Panama - No Central Bank
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Addition: Latest news on US Senate bill S 1082 - Prescription Drug User Fee Act
After the bill was to be voted on Monday, 30 April in the Senate, it seems now that there is a bit more time to contact your senators to make sure the vote does not go in the wrong direction. Here is the latest (2 May 2007) from Healthfreedom.net with link and instructions for anyone interested to take action.
Scientists find missing link to understand how plants make vitamin C
“We uncovered the last unknown enzyme in the synthesis of vitamin C in plants,” said Dr. Charles Brenner of Dartmouth Medical School’s Norris Cotton Cancer Center and Department of Genetics. An essential vitamin for people, vitamin C is well known as an antioxidant and enzyme cofactor. Humans lost the ability to make vitamin C and need to take it up from dietary sources, particularly from plants. Only in 1998 was a biosynthetic pathway proposed to explain how plants make vitamin C. Research since then has confirmed much of the pathway, although the gene responsible for the seventh step of the proposed 10-step pathway from glucose to vitamin C remained unknown.
Are Genetically Modified Foods Inherently Unsafe?
“The fact that one gene can give rise to multiple proteins . . . destroys the theoretical foundation of a multibillion-dollar industry, the genetic engineering of food crops.” Dr. Barry Commoner, senior scientist at the Center for the Biology of Natural Systems at Queens College
Philippines Forbids Import And Use Of Aspartame
A law promulgated by the Philippine Congress has forbidden the importing and use, in the country, of aspartame, a sweetener that is between 180 to 200 times more potent than sugar, as well as banning distribution of four makes of saccharine, the most important brand names in the country known as: Equal, NutraSweet, Equal-Measure and Spoonful. According to the said Law aspartame gives rise to a total of 75% of the negative effects reflected in consumers and other users according to the north American administration of food and alimentation, among others, brain tumours, multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Parkinsons, Alzheimers and diabetes among others. The ban affects all use of this product in any type of consumable...
This seems a welcome development in view of emerging scientific evidence of aspartame's carcinogenic potential. However, checking the Spanish original of the report, it appears that this dates back to August 2004. Current status of regulation in the Philippines is unknown. Perhaps one of you readers knows whether this ban is still in effect or has been repealed.
Sainsbury's takes the chemicals out of cola
Artificial colours and flavours including the controversial sweetener aspartame are being banned by Sainsbury's. Other supermarkets and manufacturers are expected to bring in similar bans following studies linking the additives to allergies and hyperactivity. Sainsbury's is replacing aspartame with sucralose, a low-calorie sweetener made from sugar.
A smart move on the part of Sainsbury's to get out of aspartame, although the replacement, sucralose, appears to have its own problems...
Does Aspartame Raise Cancer Risk?
Aspartame was given to pregnant rats and baby rats 5-weeks after their birth. "After the dose was adjusted for the smaller body weights of the rats," stated Dr. Mallika Marshall, the Italian researchers say there was a slightly increased risk of cancer among those rats who were given about 40 percent of what the FDA has deemed a maximum accepted daily dose of aspartame. Among those rats who got twice that dose, they say the risk of cancer was significantly higher."
Aspartame's Safety Questioned Again
Marshall said the researchers gave aspartame to pregnant rats, and to the baby rats beginning five weeks after birth. "After the dose was adjusted for the smaller body weights of the rats," Marshall continued, "(the researchers) say there was a slightly increased risk of cancer among those rats who were given about 40 percent of what the FDA has deemed a maximum accepted daily dose of aspartame. Among those rats who got twice that dose, they say the risk of cancer was significantly higher."
Letter to FDA: Why are you lying about aspartame?
Betty Martini has written an open letter to the Laura Tarantino of the FDA regarding the press release that negates cancer-causing effects of aspartame, an artificial sweetener also known as nutra sweet, equal, canderal and spoonful. The FDA's release, placed just before news of a second italian study that seems to confirm aspartame toxicity was to be published in New York, reads...
Consumer Reports survey finds strong backing for drug reforms
More than 60 percent of Americans also agree that the Food and Drug Administration and Congress have failed to adequately protect consumers from harmful prescription drugs. "The message we're hearing from consumers couldn't be clearer--they want strong laws to ensure our prescription drugs are as safe and effective as possible," said Jim Guest, president and CEO of Consumers Union, publisher of Consumer Reports.
FDA Fails to Protect Humans & Animals
The Washington Post reports that FDA officials have known "for years" about contaminated food that sickened hundreds of people and killed at least three. But FDA officials who are entrusted with safeguarding the public health, did nothing to prevent illness and death from contaminated peanut butter and spinach. "Congressional critics and consumer advocates said both episodes show that the agency is incapable
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