Can anyone tell me why the FDA has completely ignored their warnings, has refused to require manufacturers to complete in-depth scientific testing , since by law, they cannot do the testing themselves, and, having absolutely no valid evidence of its safety, has approved the sweetener, Acesulfame K?

Sidney M. Wolfe, M.D. Director, Public Citizen’s Health Research Group.
Former member of the NCI Carcinogenicity Clearinghouse.
J.D. Wilbourn Acting Chief, Unit of Carcinogen Identification and Evaluation,
International Agency for Research on Cancer,  a World
Health Organization agency.
Marvin Schneiderman, Ph.D. Former Associate Director of Field Studies and
Statistics at the National Cancer Institute.
Ellen K. Silbergeld, Ph.D. Professor of Epidemiology and Toxicology, University
of Maryland at Baltimore. Former member, Board of
Scientific Counselors of the National Toxicology Program (NTP).
Umberto Saffiotti, M.D. Chief, Laboratory of Experimental Pathology, National
Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland.
Franklin E. Mirer, Ph.D. Director, Health and Safety Department, United Automobile
Workers. Member of the Board of Scientific Counselors of the
National Toxicology Program (NTP).
Lorenzo Tomatis, M.D. Former director, International Agency for Research on Cancer
(IARC), a World Health Organization agency.
David Rall, M.D., Ph.D. Assistant Surgeon General, United States Public Health
Service (retired). Former director, United States National
Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS/NIH).
Former director, United States National Toxicology Program (NTP).

Acesulfame-K, Acesulfame Potassium, or Ace-K is possibly one of the most dangerous sweeteners ever allowed to enter the market. It is often the preferred sweetener used in protein powders that are promoted as being healthy sources of protein.

The Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) in Washington , D.C. is an independent “guardian” of the food and nutrition industry. This is a group that is not beholden to any food company or any manufacturer which allows them to be completely non biased when they reach their conclusions about the safety of the foods, food additives, drinks and food chemicals that are constantly being introduced to the market. They have no constraints to keep them from reporting on products that may pose a health danger to us.

The CSPI maintains a “Food Additives to Avoid” list and has been warning about this compound since 1987!  “Tests show that the additive [acesulfame K] causes cancer in animals, which means it may increase cancer in humans.” CSPI went on to say, “… acetoacetamide, a breakdown product, has been shown to affect the thyroid in rats, rabbits, and dogs. Administration of 1% and 5% acetoacetamide in the diet for three months caused benign thyroid tumors in rats.  The appearance of tumors raises serious questions about the chemical’s carcinogenic potency.” The CSPI statement made about Ace K speaks volumes and states in no uncertain terms that it is a dangerous substance: “Avoid Acesulfame K and products containing it. Your sweet tooth isn’t worth it.”

The only known manufacturer of acesulfame K is Hoechst Food Ingredients in Germany. CSPI claims the protocols in Hoeschst’s tests on rats and mice done in 1988 are seriously flawed.  This isn’t surprising when you become aware that this pharmaceutical and chemical company also pleaded guilty in 1999 to a 17-year conspiracy to fix prices of sorbates, a type of food preservative, which affected $1 billion in commerce in the United States alone!

In June 1995, the CSPI filed a protest with the FDA, saying that the sweetener’s carcinogenicity had not been properly tested in long-term animal feeding tests.

According to CSPI, the numerous tests done on acesulfame K “followed inadequate protocols, which are greatly at variance with current standards for test design, execution and reporting required for the National Toxicology Program’s bioassays.”

Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI), has repeatedly expressed concern that acesulfame K is a potential carcinogen and questions the safety of exposure to one of its components – methylene chloride, a known cancer-causing chemical.

What long term studies were done did not meet the standards set for long term studies!  The studies were not conducted over the length of time required and the dosages were “questionably” low, which led the FDA to give the go ahead even though two of the rat studies suggested that the additive may indeed cause Cancer.

Sadly, I find this ingredient in all too many products that are claiming amazing health benefits. It is in everything from the Super Juice drinks to the “secret” or exotic ingredient “health” drinks and supplements that we see hyped so much by honest people who really believe what they say. They just don’t know the lack of science behind their product, and so unwittingly contribute to the increasingly poor health of our people.

There is no valid reason to consume this, Splenda, or Aspartame. If you are trying to lose weight, there is solid proof that artificial sweeteners make it harder for your body to release fat than if you use natural sweeteners.

I am so proud that my company  has never in its history used an ingredient that was even questionable, let alone toxic. This is especially important in what we put into our bodies.

Until next time,
Expect something wonderful to happen for you every day!