Neotame: A Toxic Artificial Sweetener that May Be Lurking in Your Food
Often marketed as Equal and Nutrasweet, aspartame is a well known neurotoxic sweetener used in many food products. This cancer-causing artificial sweetener is threatening the health of populations worldwide and has even been found to be created using genetically modified bacteria. While most individuals know about aspartame and its dangers, there is another, lesser known sweetener in the food supply that many people don’t know about – Neotame.
Neotame Hidden in Your Food
Introduced by biotech giant Monsanto, Neotame was created as a new sweetener and flavor enhancer to be used in food products. On July 9, 2002, the United States Food and Drug Administration decided that Neotame’s safety and functionality made it available for consumption, thus resulting in its approval. What’s concerning is, while Neotame has a similar structure to aspartame, the chemicals used in its manufacturing process seem to make the sweetener even more toxic than aspartame.
Both aspartame and Neotame are made up of substances which metabolize into a highly toxic poison known as formaldehyde. In addition, they contain an excitotoxic amino acid that agitates, thereby damaging nerves. Although very similar to aspartame in chemical structure, Neotame has one chemical added that aspartame does not possess – 3,3-dimethylbutyl, which does carry a toxicity profile.
HolisticMed reports:
Neotame has similar structure to aspartame — except that, from it’s structure, appears to be even more toxic than aspartame. This potential increase in toxicity will make up for the fact that less will be used in diet drinks. Like aspartame, some of the concerns include gradual neurotoxic and immunotoxic damage from the combination of the formaldehyde metabolite (which is toxic at extremely low doses) and the excitotoxic amino acid.
Neotame’s manufacturing process involves combining aspartame with 3,3-dimethylbutyraldehyde, a chemical categorized as a highly flammable irritant. The largest argument for the use of this sweetener as well as aspartame is that they battle against obesity, but it is well known that sweeteners like aspartame actually lead to obesity.
The worst part? Even if you wanted to avoid this sweetener, you may find it impossible to do so. Not only are there no labeling rules for Neotame, but it is even included in the USDA certified organic food.
So what is the solution? If you are trying to avoid Neotame, the best thing to do is buy all organic items that have no or very little ingredients. The less ingredients, the less chance Neotame could be hiding out. Given the history behind Monsanto and its other creations – Agent Orange, Roundup, and GMO crops – it seems quite clear that their Neotame is no exception for consumption.
Hi,
I own an organic shop in Australia. Those who call the shots re USDA certification standards (as well as processors that use USDA certification) need to know that their overseas market is dwindling.
For me, this is the last straw, from Monday I will not be restocking any USDA certified goods.
It's "Aspartame", not "Aspertame". That said, it's time we stopped buying food in boxes, the more it's been changed and modified and adulterated the less healthy it is and the less it should be classified as food. Eating healthy food replaces the need for vitamins. Vitamins are a big industry like processed foods.
If the FDA is not forcing the disclosure of all ingredients in our foods as the law prescribes then it must be brought to task in the courts to explain why certain food additives are included and others not. Only by challenging the methods of the FDA in court will you find out who is helping the corporate giants get rid of low cost sweeteners in our food supply without our knowing the risks. Perhaps then you may also see the legal system is aiding this practice when they throw your case out of court without even a hearing. Remember law enforcement begins and ends in the department of justice. Corrupt judges obstruct the implementation of the best of laws and thwart policing of our food chain, perhaps why no one went to jail in the mad cow disease epidemic which went on for years because of a lack of prosecution.
the only way this problem and others similar is when we find a way to get mainstream newspapers to get on board.
A dental surgeon that was going to work on my daughter, told me point blank: It is a good thing you told me that your daughter is allergic to Soya. The medicine I would put her to sleep with, it is MIXED with Soya Oils. I will have to do the procedure differently for her, or there could be dire consequences…
How many people, that do not know they are being exposed to soya, which IS GMO product, are being subjected from all angles?
It is a scary thought.
Food products are required to divulge the ingredients and chemical composition of the said product prior to passing the food grade for approval. Plus the food and drugs does independent testing for the foods to determine the actual composition. How did this happen?