former NC Senator John Edwards gave up 8-12 cans daily Diet Coke about January 2005, switching to caffeine free Diet Sprite Zero with 27% of the aspartame per can: Murray 2006.12.28

former NC Senator John Edwards gave up 8-12 cans daily Diet Coke about
January 2005, switching to caffeine free Diet Sprite Zero with 27% of
the aspartame per can: Murray 2006.12.28
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1392


http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1101
John Edwards gives up Diet Coke: The Cult of Diet Coke,
Eric Gillin: Murray 2004.07.12 rmforall

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1102
John Edwards still drinks Diet Coke (aspartame): TIME Europe
July 19 issue: Murray 2004.07.12


http://www.businessweek.com/technolo...126_tc_211.htm

Politicians Are Pod People
Both Democrats and Republicans are warming to podcasts as a way of
getting their message straight to their party faithful
By Eamon Javers in Washington, D.C. Eamon_Javers@businessweek.com,
Edited by Ira Sager

" "A HUGE IMPACT."
Edwards goes Dole one step better in his recent podcast: He dispensed
with an interviewer altogether.
The Edwards podcasts ( available on oneamericacommittee.com ) feature
the former Senator and his wife, Elizabeth, chatting and reading the
answers to questions sent in by visitors to the Web site

The talk ranges from John Edwards' attempt to cut his Diet Coke intake
to both Edwards' search for new solutions to poverty.

The Edwards podcasts are just short of a half-hour, while Dole's clocks
in at just over 11 minutes. "


http://www.reachm.com/amstreet/archi...05/04/21/4273/

The American Street

By Jude Nagurney Camwell 4:38 am
www.blogger.com/profile/1133998
http://iddybudjournal.blogspot.com/ http://iddybud.blogspot.com/
Iddybud@yahoo.com,

April 21, 2005 John Edwards: The Second Podcast

" John Edwards began his second Podcast by thanking listeners, and he
then invited his wife Elizabeth to welcome them.
Once again, they were podcasting on their son Jack's special blanket.

Precariously perched atop the blanket, along with the podcasting
equipment, was Elizabeth's Diet Coke and John's Diet Sprite Zero.

(John has gone "cold turkey" on Diet Coke - after he realized he
was drinking 8 - 10 of them each day).

They joked that, if they did happen to spill some of their drinks on
the blanket, it surely wouldn't have been the worst thing to have
spilled onto it! (*anyone with wee ones will get that joke). "


http://johnedwards.com/splash/
http://johnedwards.com/about/contact/form/
http://johnedwards.com/media/podcasts/

John Edwards 002: At the Table:
John Edwards' Second Podcast Apr 19, 2005
Senator and Mrs. Edwards discuss issues and respond to questions
submitted by listeners.
File size: 9.4 MB
Duration: 27:22

About 9 minutes into the podcast, after discussing bankruptcy laws,
a fast lively jocular kidding exchange, often interrupting each other:

J: By the way -- we are podcasting today on top of Jack's blanket, his
gigi, uh, eh, because Elizabeth has her Diet Coke -- sitting on Jack's
blanket. I have my Diet Sprite Zero, sitting on Jack's blanket, which,
by the way, is really important because -- I'm not drinking Diet Coke
any more -- uh and it is, it is, uh, like a, uh huge change for me.
How long has it been there? Cold turkey -- for like three months?

E: (softly) yeah

J: three months, you're still drinking it there --

E: I am --

J: uh and it's --

E: (louder and faster) But I'm finding out I was not drinking quite,
quite as much as I thought I was, that you were drinking most, that you
were drinking most of those cokes that were disappear --

J: (interrupting) Me! It was me! I was drinking eight, ten, twelve of
those things a day -- so anyway --

E: (fast) So even if we spilled it on the blanket I don't think it's
the worst thing that was ever got on this blanket.

J: (quieter) OK, enough blankets and cokes and stuff. Uh, next
question.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sprite_Zero

Sprite Zero is a clear, lemon-lime-flavored zero calorie beverage
produced by the Coca-Cola Company. This sugar-free drink originally had
began production as "Sugar Free Sprite" in 1974, then renamed to the
name "Diet Sprite" in 1983. In other countries, it is known as "Sprite
Light". In September 2004, it was rereleased with a modified recipe and
renamed "Diet Sprite Zero" in Canada and the United States. In the
summer of 2006, with the debut of the new packaging, "diet" was dropped
from the name. Consequently, "Sprite Light" has been rebranded as
"Sprite Zero" in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Mexico, Europe, Australia,
and New Zealand.

As artificial sweeteners, in its North American formulation, one 355-ml
can of Sprite Zero contains 75 mg of aspartame and 50 mg of acesulfame
potassium.
[ Aspartame sodas have about 200 mg aspartame per 12 oz can. ]

Ingredients

carbonated water, citric acid, natural flavors, potassium citrate, and
potassium benzoate, aspartame, acesulfame potassium.


http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/TheNote/story?id=478060

On Sunday, the Washington Post's Dan Balz wrote up his time with Sen.
Edwards in New Hampshire this weekend, where, Diet Coke-free, Edwards
said that Democrats don't need to change their positions to be
successful, they just need to stand up for what they actually believe
in. Among his post-public life ventures is a focus on foreign policy
and speeches in the U.S. and abroad. And we're glad to hear that Mrs.
Edwards is doing well.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...-2005Feb5.html

Back in N.H., Edwards Is Mum on 2008 Run
Former Vice Presidential Candidate Says He Is Focusing on His Wife's
Health

By Dan Balz Washington Post Staff Writer
Sunday, February 6, 2005; Page A05

" Edwards fielded questions a few hours before the speech, wearing a
bright blue sweater and hiking boots, and sipping a clear, carbonated,
decaffeinated drink, having recently sworn off the Diet Cokes he has
consumed in prodigious quantities for many years. "


http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/876
hyperthyroidism (Graves disease) in George and Barbara Bush,
1991 -- aspartame toxicity? Roberts 1997: Murray 2002.10.09

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/874
re "dry drunk": Bisbort: danger to President Bush
from aspartame toxicity: Murray: 2002.02.24 2002.09.29

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1065
politicians and celebrities hooked on diet sodas (aspartame):
Murray 2004.03.24
************************************************** *****


http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1391
FDA Commissioner Andrew Von Eschenbach response to NM state senator
Gerald Ortiz y Pino and 11 legislators re aspartame toxicity: Murray
2006.12.27

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1380
NM State Senator Gerald Gerald Ortiz y Pino writes US Senator Jeff
Bingaman to ban aspartame (source of methanol, formaldehyde): Fox:
Murray 2006.10.31

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1378
11 members of New Mexico legislature sign letter to ban aspartame as a
source of toxic methanol and formaldehyde, Stephen Fox, NM Senator
Gerald Ortiz y Pino: Murray 2006.10.22

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1374
47 UK Members of Parliament now support aspartame ban initiative of
Roger Williams, MP: Murray 2006.10.16


Text of Dr. Von Eschenbach's letter in Response to NM Senator Gerald
Ortiz y Pino and eleven members of the New Mexico Legislative Health
and Human Services Committee and Legislative Education Committee.

Dear Senator Ortiz y Pino:

Thank you for your letter of October 18 co-signed by Members of the New
Mexico Legislative Education Committee.
In your letter, you request that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
rescind its approval of the food additive aspartame.
In particular, you raise concerns about the formation of the aspartame
metabolites methanol and formaldehyde, and about the potential for
formation of diketopiperazine when aspartame is heated.

I want to assure you that these and other relevant safety issues have
been addressed and thoroughly evaluated by FDA,
as well as other regulatory bodies in the United States and around the
world, including the National Institutes of Health, European Food
Safety Agency, Scientific Committee for Foods of the European Union,
Health Canada, and others.
These agencies are all in agreement that aspartame is safe for the
general population with the exception of those individuals with
Phenylketonuria.
To protect phenylketonurics, any food containing aspartame must bear a
conspicuous statement on the label that indicates that the product
contains phenylalanine.

FDA closely monitors the scientific literature for information that
might indicate a potential public health concern with a food additive,
including Aspartame, even after an additive has been approved.

For example, FDA is currently evaluating the significance of a recent
study with aspartame conducted by the European Ramazzini Foundation.
To date, the agency has not been presented with any credible scientific
information that would support a change in its conclusions about the
safety of aspartame.

If the agency is presented with such information that indicates a
potential public health concern with aspartame, FDA will take
appropriate action to protect the public health.

Thank you for your interest in the safety of American consumers.
I appreciate your correspondence and hope you find this information
helpful.

Sincerely,

Andrew Von Eschenbach, M.D.
Acting Commissioner of Food and Drugs (301) 827-2410
************************************************** *****


many use 2 L, about 6 cans, of aspartame drinks daily, thus imbibing
123 mg methanol, 4 times the EPA RfD for daily ingestion: EPA IRIS
Hotline: Murray 2006.12.21
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1390

December 21, 2006 Dear EPA IRIS Hotline:

http://www.epa.gov/IRIS/subst/0305.htm Methanol (CASRN 67-56-1)

I. Chronic Health Hazard Assessments for Noncarcinogenic Effects
I.A. Reference Dose for Chronic Oral Exposure (RfD)

Substance Name -- Methanol
CASRN -- 67-56-1
Last Revised -- 07/01/1993

In general, the RfD [ lifetime allowable daily oral reference dose ] is
an estimate (with uncertainty spanning perhaps an order of magnitude)
of a daily exposure to the human population (including sensitive
subgroups) that is likely to be without an appreciable risk of
deleterious effects during a lifetime.

The RfD is given by the NOEL [ No Observed Effects Level in animals ],
divided by the usual safety factor of 1,000.

The animal test data was twenty years ago: Increased SAP and SGPT, and
decreased brain weight, in a U.S. EPA 1986 Rat Oral Subchronic Study,
leading to a NOEL of 500 mg/kg body weight/day.

"The principal study was well-designed and provided adequate
toxicological endpoints, but the method of administration was not
ideal.
The overall data base is weak, lacking data on reproductive,
developmental, or other toxicological endpoints.
The RfD is given a medium confidence rating because of the strengths of
the principal study."

"Please contact the IRIS Hotline for all questions concerning this
assessment or IRIS, in general,
at (202)566-1676 (phone), (202)566-1749 (FAX) or hotline.iris@epa.gov
(internet address)."

So, the human RfD has been set at 0.5 mg/kg body weight/day, which for
a 70 kg person is 35 mg daily.

Well-established, simple facts:

"Fully 11% of aspartame is methanol -- 1,120 mg aspartame
in 2 L diet soda, almost six 12-oz cans, gives 123 mg
methanol (wood alcohol)."

"http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1307
formaldehyde from 11% methanol part of aspartame or from red wine
causes same toxicity (hangover) harm: Murray 2006.05.24

Dark wines and liquors, as well as aspartame, provide
similar levels of methanol, above 120 mg daily, for
long-term heavy users, 2 L daily, about 6 cans.

Within hours, methanol is inevitably largely turned into formaldehyde,
and thence largely into formic acid -- the major causes of the dreaded
symptoms of "next morning" hangover.

Fully 11% of aspartame is methanol -- 1,120 mg aspartame
in 2 L diet soda, almost six 12-oz cans, gives 123 mg
methanol (wood alcohol). If 30% of the methanol is turned
into formaldehyde, the amount of formaldehyde, 37 mg,
is 18.5 times the USA EPA limit for daily formaldehyde in
drinking water, 2.0 mg in 2 L average daily drinking water.

Any unsuspected source of methanol, which the body always quickly
and largely turns into formaldehyde and then formic acid, must be
monitored, especially for high responsibility occupations, often with
night shifts, such as pilots and nuclear reactor operators."

I would appreciate a thoughtful response by a qualified EPA expert, in
view of the gravity of public hazard from the prevalence of chronic
exposure to methanol in common products worldwide.

Especially prominent as cumulative toxins of very well known potency
is the rapid metabolism of methanol in humans into formaldehyde and
formic acid.

Surely the urgency of adequate, thorough investigation and action to
protect health is obvious and undeniable.

Actually, much profound benefit can be achieved quickly with low
initial research and some resulting economic costs, which of course
will be more than balanced by reductions in medical costs and increases
in economic efficiency, resulting in more public tax revenue and
increased economic activity in the private sector.

Rather than animal studies, as an informed medical layman, I suggest
rapid, powerful, thorough, intensive studies on the symptoms,
biochemistry, and neurological measures of people who have had the
equivalent of 6 cans diet soda for years, with follow through for a
year after aspartame abstinence.

In terms of funding, perhaps the various industries involved would be
eager to support a fully open and transparent public initiative to
definitively settle a slowly increasing chronic controversy.

The liquor industry may find affordable ways of eliminating the roughly
one part in ten thousand methanol impurity.

Some investigations should be made as to whether low dose methanol can
incapacitate bacteria, viruses, and yeasts.

In mutual service, Rich Murray


short aspartame (methanol, formaldehyde) toxicity research summary:
Murray 2006.12.21
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1379

"Of course, everyone chooses, as a natural priority,
to actively find, quickly share, and positively act upon the facts
about healthy and safe food, drink, and environment."

Rich Murray, MA Room For All rmforall@comcast.net
505-501-2298 1943 Otowi Road Santa Fe, New Mexico 87505

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/messages
group with 76 members, 1,392 posts in a public, searchable archive
http://RMForAll.blogspot.com

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1340
aspartame groups and books: updated research review of 2004.07.16:
Murray 2006.05.11

Coca-Cola carcinogenicity in rats, Ramazzini Foundation, F Belpoggi, M
Soffritti, Annals NY Academy Sciences 2006 Sept, parts of 17 pages:
Murray 2006.12.02
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1385

[ For related information and links:

Fiorella Belpoggi & Morando Soffritti of Ramazzini Foundation prove
lifetime carcinogenicity of Coca-Cola, aspartame, and arsenic, Annals
of the NY Academy of Sciences: Murray 2006.11.28
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1382

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1383 aspartame

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1384 arsenic ]


soft drinks and adolescent hyperactivity, mental distress, conduct
problems, Lars Lien, Nanna Lien, Sonja Heyerdahl, Mayne Thoresen, Espen
Bjertness 2006 Oct., A J Pub Health: Murray 2006.10.21
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1376

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1375
healthy diet, vitamins, and fish oil help reduce depression and
violence, studies by Joseph Hibbeln, Bernard Gesch, and Stephen
Schoenthaler, articles by Felicity Lawrence in UK Guardian Unlimited
and Pat Thomas in The Ecologist: Murray 2006.10.21


http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1378
11 members of New Mexico legislature sign letter to ban aspartame as a
source of toxic methanol and formaldehyde, Stephen Fox, NM Senator
Gerald Ortiz y Pino: Murray 2006.10.22

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1374
47 UK Members of Parliament now support aspartame ban initiative of
Roger Williams, MP: Murray 2006.10.16

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1271
combining aspartame and quinoline yellow, or MSG and brilliant blue,
harms nerve cells, eminent C. Vyvyan Howard et al, 2005
education.guardian.co.uk, Felicity Lawrence: Murray 2005.12.21

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1277
50% UK baby food is now organic -- aspartame or MSG
with food dyes harm nerve cells, CV Howard 3 year study
funded by Lizzy Vann, CEO, Organix Brands,
Children's Food Advisory Service: Murray 2006.01.13

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1279
all three aspartame metabolites harm human erythrocyte [red blood cell]
membrane enzyme activity, KH Schulpis et al, two studies in 2005,
Athens, Greece, 2005.12.14: 2004 research review, RL Blaylock:
Murray 2006.01.14

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1366
toxicity in rat brains from aspartame, Vences-Mejia A, Espinosa-Aguirre
JJ et al 2006 Aug: Murray 2006.09.06

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1373
aspartame rat brain toxicity re cytochrome P450 enzymes, expecially
CYP2E1, Vences-Mejia A, Espinosa-Aguirre JJ et al, 2006 Aug,
Hum Exp Toxicol: relevant abstracts re formaldehyde from methanol
in alcohol drinks: Murray 2006.09.29

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1369
Bristol, Connecticut, schools join state program to limit artificial
sweeteners, sugar, fats for 8800 students, Johnny J Burnham, The
Bristol Press: Murray 2006.09.22

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1341
Connecticut bans artificial sweeteners in schools, Nancy Barnes,
New Milford Times: Murray 2006.05.25

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1353
carcinogenic effect of inhaled formaldehyde, Federal Institute of Risk
Assessment, Germany -- same safe level as for Canada:
Murray 2006.06.02

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1352
Home sickness -- indoor air often worse, as our homes seal in
pollutants
[one is formaldehyde, also from the 11% methanol part of aspartame],
Megan Gillis, WinnipegSun.com: Murray 2006.06.01


http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1143
methanol (formaldehyde, formic acid) disposition: Bouchard M
et al, full plain text, 2001: substantial sources are
degradation of fruit pectins, liquors, aspartame, smoke:
Murray 2005.04.02

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1349
NIH NLM ToxNet HSDB Hazardous Substances Data Bank
inadequate re aspartame (methanol, formaldehyde, formic acid):
Murray 2006.08.19

http://toxnet.nlm.nih.gov/cgi-bin/si...temp/~HwoSfJ:1
HSDB Hazardous Substances Data Bank: Aspartame

ASPARTAME CASRN: 22839-47-0
METHANOL CASRN: 67-56-1
FORMALDEHYDE CASRN: 50-00-0
FORMIC ACID CASRN: 64-18-6

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1307
formaldehyde from 11% methanol part of aspartame or from red wine
causes same toxicity (hangover) harm: Murray 2006.05.24

Dark wines and liquors, as well as aspartame, provide
similar levels of methanol, above 120 mg daily, for
long-term heavy users, 2 L daily, about 6 cans.

Within hours, methanol is inevitably largely turned into formaldehyde,
and thence largely into formic acid -- the major causes of the dreaded
symptoms of "next morning" hangover.

Fully 11% of aspartame is methanol -- 1,120 mg aspartame
in 2 L diet soda, almost six 12-oz cans, gives 123 mg
methanol (wood alcohol). If 30% of the methanol is turned
into formaldehyde, the amount of formaldehyde, 37 mg,
is 18.5 times the USA EPA limit for daily formaldehyde in
drinking water, 2.0 mg in 2 L average daily drinking water.

Any unsuspected source of methanol, which the body always quickly
and largely turns into formaldehyde and then formic acid, must be
monitored, especially for high responsibility occupations, often with
night shifts, such as pilots and nuclear reactor operators.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1052
DMDC: Dimethyl dicarbonate 200mg/L in drinks adds methanol 98 mg/L
( becomes formaldehyde in body ): EU Scientific Committee on Foods
2001.07.12: Murray 2004.01.22

http://www.HolisticMed.com/aspartame mgold@holisticmed.com
Aspartame Toxicity Information Center Mark D. Gold
12 East Side Drive #2-18 Concord, NH 03301 603-225-2100

http://www.holisticmed.com/aspartame.../methanol.html
"Scientific Abuse in Aspartame Research"

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/957
safety of aspartame Part 1/2 12.4.2: EC HCPD-G SCF:
Murray 2003.01.12 rmforall EU Scientific Committee on Food,
a whitewash

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1045
http://www.holisticmed.com/aspartame...2-response.htm
Mark Gold exhaustively critiques European Commission Scientific
Committee on Food re aspartame ( 2002.12.04 ):
59 pages, 230 references

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1371
Russell L. Blaylock, MD discusses MSG, aspartame, excitotoxins
with Mike Adams: Murray 2006.09.27

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1372
Mike Adams interviews Randall Fitzgerald on "The Hundred Year Lie:
How Food and Medicine are Destroying Your Health" 2006.06.21:
Murray 2006.09.28
************************************************** *****


http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/782
RTM: Smith, Terpening, Schmidt, Gums:
full text: aspartame, MSG, fibromyalgia 2002.01.17
Jerry D Smith, Chris M Terpening,
Siegfried OF Schmidt, and John G Gums
Relief of Fibromyalgia Symptoms Following
Discontinuation of Dietary Excitotoxins.
The Annals of Pharmacotherapy 2001; 35(6): 702-706.
Malcolm Randall Veterans Affairs Medical Center,
Gainesville, FL, USA.
BACKGROUND: Fibromyalgia is a common rheumatologic
disorder that is often difficult to treat effectively.
CASE SUMMARY: Four patients diagnosed with fibromyalgia
syndrome for two to 17 years are described.
All had undergone multiple treatment modalities with limited success.
All had complete, or nearly complete,
resolution of their symptoms within months after eliminating
monosodium glutamate (MSG) or MSG plus aspartame from their diet.
All patients were women with multiple comorbidities
prior to elimination of MSG.
All have had recurrence of symptoms whenever MSG is ingested.

Siegfried O. Schmidt, MD Asst. Clinical Prof. siggy@shands.ufl.edu
Community Health and Family Medicine, U. Florida, Gainesville, FL
Shands Hospital West Oak Clinic Gainesville, FL 32608-3629
352-376-5071
************************************************** *****