Aspartame
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Comment by Joanna Blaha on February 8th, 2010 at 4:12 pm
“(b) methanol and formaldehyde are natural by-products of human metabolism and are safely processed by various enzymes;”
This statement is absolutely 100% false. I have been an ASCP certifed Medical Technologist for the last 17 years, and Manage a Chemistry laboratory for a large Northeastern Ohio Hospital system. I also have a Bachelor’s degree in Microbiology from Pennsylvania State University, where I performed various research studies on metabolism. Never in my entire life have either methanol or formaldehyde ever been classified as a part of normal human metabolism. In medicine, these two chemicals are poisons. Nothing else but poisons. I think it would be a real good idea to consider removing that statement.
Comment by Rick Swarts on February 8th, 2010 at 5:29 pm
We appreciate your clarification on this issue and bringing further information of value to the reader. Indeed, many individuals consider formaldehyde, for example, to be a carcinogen. However, the article does state before that statement: “Some experts/scientists believe . . .”. Note, for example, the following statement from the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia:
“First, formaldehyde is essential in human metabolism and is required for the synthesis of DNA and amino acids (the building blocks of protein). Therefore, all humans have detectable quantities of natural formaldehyde in their circulation (about 2.5 ug of formaldehyde per ml of blood).”
http://www.chop.edu/service/vaccine-education-center/hot-topics/formaldehyde.html
Comment by Nobody Special on November 16th, 2011 at 1:58 am
“Carbohydrates not only are a vital component needed by humans, but sweet items also address an internal aspect of people, the joy of taste.”
According to evolutionary theory, the “joy of taste” would have been reinforced in organisms after an initial mutation or mutations caused them to seek out highly nutritive carbohydrates preferentially, enabling them to be more successful reproductively, thus perpetuating the trait. Therefore, the “joy of taste” is a /result/ of its vital important to humans, not an additional cause.
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