Article reprinted from Pure Facts April 2004
Aspartame and other synthetic sweeteners are being offered as a "healthy" replacement for the high-sugar beverages found in many school vending machines.
Dr. H. J. Roberts, director of the Palm Beach Institute for Medical
Research, has written extensively about the damaging effects of synthetic
sweeteners, particularly aspartame. He has issued a warning to doctors
and parents:
Imminent Public Health Threat
"Imaginative entrepreneurs now seek to substitute an array of palatable 'sugar free,' 'caffeine free,' and 'calorie free' drinks having appealing brand names. They plan to actively promote them to students and school systems, using celebrities such as professional athletes as pitchmen."Unfortunately, there is a major public health problem when aspartame (commonly known as NutraSweet and Equal) is the sweetening agent. I have repeatedly stated my professional opinion, based on the scores of children in my data base of aspartame reactors, that they should not take aspartame products - including beverages, foods, vitamins, drugs, gum and supplements.
"Each of the components of this chemical (phenylalanine; aspartic acid; the methyl ester, which promptly becomes free methyl alcohol) and their multiple breakdown products can damage the developing brain.
"Aspartame-induced disorders in children include headache, confusion, convulsions, irritability, depression, intellectual deterioration, antisocial behavior, rashes, asthma and unstable diabetes. Addiction to aspartame products also has become a problem. The details appear in my publications, particularly Aspartame Disease: An Ignored Epidemic."
How to find better choices for school vending machines
There are a variety of flavored waters and carbonated juice drinks available. Health food stores and "healthy markets" (Whole Foods, Wild Oats, etc.) offer a selection of natural products that children and adults enjoy. Take a look at what is available there, and suggest the administrators at your school do the same.