Hopkins Lab Notes

From here -> http://www.hoptechno.com/book2.htm

Americans have been consuming saccharin for more than 100 years. It is - like so many other food additives - made from petroleum-based materials. Discovered by a Johns Hopkins University scientist in 1879, it was used initially as an antiseptic and food preservative.


70s Saccharin testing....

Two of the studies that followed only increased public health concerns. One was done in 1972 by the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation, the other in 1973 by FDA. In both tests, male and female rats were fed doses of saccharin from the time of weaning. The offspring of those rats were given saccharin for their entire lives. In both tests, the incidence of bladder tumors in the animals fed saccharin was considered significant. However, arguments were made that an impurity, not saccharin itself, was causing the tumors.

In February 1974, Canada's Health Protection Branch - FDA's counterpart there - began a major rat study to resolve the scientific uncertainties surrounding saccharin. The Canadian project, in which parent rats and their offspring were exposed to saccharin, focused on the effects of the suspect impurity in saccharin, orthotoluenesulfonamide (OTS). In early 1977, the study demonstrated that neither OTS nor other alleged culprits - bladder parasites and bladder stones - were causing the tumors. The substance responsible, the study showed, was saccharin.

*People revolted claiming that the amount of saccharin fed to the rats was equivalent to 800 cans of soda for a person.
*Took it out of contest, those rioting jerks.

Cyclamate

A cigarette placed almost unthinkingly on a pile of crystal powder led to the discovery of cyclamate by a University of Illinois scientist in 1937. When the scientist put the cigarette back in his mouth, he found that the powder, a derivative of cyclohexylsulfamic acid, had a sweet and pleasant taste. In the years that followed, the sweetener has endured both the sweet smell of success and the bitter taste of rejection.

That is...disgusting.

It was really popular until it was banned because of undeniable evidence of tumors in tests.

Abbott Laboratories, North Chicago, Ill., the sole U.S. producer of cyclamate, sought FDA's permission to re-market the artificial sweetener in November 1973, for use only in special dietary foods and for specific technological purposes. Abbott's petition included more than 400 toxicological reports, all completed after 1970, with assessments of cyclamate's carcinogenicity, mutagenicity (capability of producing genetic damage), and metabolism. In March 1976, the National Cancer Institute told FDA that Abbott's evidence did not establish or refute the cancer-causing potential of cyclamate. FDA concurred and informed the company that its evidence did not demonstrate "to a reasonable certainty" that cyclamate was safe for human consumption.

He tried again in the 80s to use it in combonation with other sweeteners but still got denied.

Aspartame

Following the 1983 approval for carbonated beverage use, some scientists and consumer groups charged that aspartame was a health hazard because it broke down and exposed consumers to excessive levels of methanol. At high enough levels, methanol is a poison and can cause blindness. It also is metabolized into formaldehyde, a "known carcinogen," the critics charged.

The critics maintained that decomposition of aspartame could occur - and expose consumers to possibly high levels of methanol and formaldehyde - if a beverage containing the sweetener was stored for long periods at high temperatures. FDA evaluated the charges and concluded "that the levels of methanol resulting from the use of aspartame in carbonated beverages did not pose any safety issues because they were well below levels of exposure expected to produce toxicity." It was also noted that other foods - including juices, fruits and vegetables - exposed consumers to higher amounts of methanol without adverse effects.

After evaluating the complaints, CDC reported in November of 1984 that, although some individuals may have an "unusual sensitivity" to aspartame products, the data obtained "do not provide evidence for the existence of serious, widespread, adverse health consequences attendant to the use of aspartame." Although a wide variety of symptoms were reported, CDC said most were mild and the kind that would be "common to the general populace."
Food Additive Regulations in the FDA;

The Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act provides, in the now-famous Delaney Clause, tht no new food additive can be used if animal feeding studies or other appropriate tests show that it caused cancer. The Delaney Clause, however, does not apply to additives that were generally recognized by experts as safe for their intended uses. Saccharin, cyclamate and a long list of other substances were being used in foods before passage of the Delaney Clause in 1958 and were considered "generally recognized as safe" -or what is known today as GRAS. (Aspartame, on the other hand, became the first artificial sweetener to fall under the 1958 amendment's requirement for pre-marketing proof of safety because the first petition to FDA for is approval was filed in 1973.)

Internet A Notes; Food Additives Part One

Acesulfame -K(Potassium);
History; German, was regulated by the FDA to only be used in sugar free baked produce, gum and gelatins until 1998 it was allowed to be used in soda and soft drinks

Safety; in the 70's there were 'mediocre' tests done, but none very completely or thoroughly. rat studies that were conducted indicated that Acesulfame K is carciogenic and it's byproduct, acetoacetamide, affected the thyroid glands in small animals.


Aspartame
Found in; Equal, Nutrisweet, Gums, Soft Drinks, Gelatins ect.

It is a chemical combo of two amino acids along with Methanol.

History; In the 70s, a study concluded that aspartame was unsafe because it caused brain tumors in rats. THE FDA (THREATENED?) PRESSURED THEM TO REVERSE THE OUTCOME OF THEIR STUDIES. In Italy 2005 another study took place where 8 week old rats were exposed to aspartame. The females developed lymphoma and leukimia but the EFSA (Euro Food Safety Authority) concluded it HAPPENED BY CHANCE. In 2007 the same Italian company did another study, introducing rats to the substance in utero. Not only did they develpe lymphoma and leukimia, but they also had forms of breast cancer. It was decided that their research was more fruitful than previous studies because the study lasted 3 years rather than 2.

In a 5 year long 2006 study by the US Cancer Institute, a group of 50-69 year olds were monitored and the study results indicated that aspartame was not a problem. BUT THERE WERE THREE MAJOR FLAWS.

I. "It did not involve truly elderly people (the rat studies monitored the rats until they died a natural death), "
II. "the subjects had not consumed aspartame as children, and it was not a controlled study (the subjects provided only a rough estimate of their aspartame consumption"
III. "people who consumed aspartame might have had other dietary or lifestyle differences that obscured the chemical’s effects)".


BUTYLATED HYDROXYANISOLE (BHA)
Used in; Cereals, potato chips, chewing gum and veggie oils all as an antioxidant to prevent decay. (Like that's not a cover claim of being healthy. >:O )

Safety; Throughout studies, some have proven harmless while others indicate cancer in the forestomach (an organ homosapiens don't have) in small rodents. The US Department of Health declares BHA to be "“reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen.” so the FDA still permits it's use in foods. Assholes.

BUTYLATED HYDROXYTOLUENE (BHT)
Used in; Cereals, potato chips, chewing gum and veggie oils all as an antioxidant to prevent decay just like BHA.

Safety; Contradictory studies indicate it both increases/decreases risk of cancer. It is stored in our fat.

CARMINE; COCHINEAL EXTRACT
What is it? A coloring that is refined and concentrated. Originally extracted from the eggs of the Cochineal Beetle.

Safety; many people have allergic reactions ranging from mild symptoms to severe life threatening hives or shock.


CARRAGEENAN
Used in; ice cream, chocolate milk, baby formula and jelly as a thickening substance. Extracted from seaweed.

Safety; some studies indicate damage to animal's colon but it's generally reguarded as 'safe'.


CYCLAMATE

BANNED IN 1970. Was originally used in diet foods as an artifical sweetener. GO FDA!!

It is now belived to not directly cause cancer but promotes carciogenity in other cancerous substances.



High Fructose Corn Syrup

History; has been used more and more exponentially since the 80s. Contrary to popular belief, it is made up of almost equal percents of Glucose and Fructose just like table sugar. Some people blame it for increased obesity.

Safety; This artical believes it isn't any more fattening or unhealthy than regular sugar.

How it's made; "HFCS starts out as cornstarch. Companies use enzymes or acids to break down the starch into its glucose subunits. Then other enzymes convert different proportions of the glucose to fructose. The resulting syrups contain as much as 90 percent fructose, but most HFCS is 42 percent or 55 percent fructose."


HYDROLYZED VEGETABLE PROTEIN (HVP)
Used in; "savory" flavor enhancer in soups, meats ect;

What is it? It is made of a veggie proteins (most often soybeans) that have chemically been broken down to amino acids. It's purpose is to bring out the natural flavor of the food so less real food and more crap can be used.
IT CONTAINS MSG.


MONOSODIUM GLUTAMATE (MSG)
Used in; EVERYTHING, chips, soups, sauces, dressings all to bring out the "savory" flavor of things.

Safety; In the 60s a study showed that MSG caused serious nerve damage to baby mice. When this study was publicized, the people revolted to have it banned from BABY FOOD. (in which it was added to make the food taste better to the PARENTS.)

"Careful studies have shown that some people are sensitive to MSG. Reactions include headache, nausea, weakness, and burning sensation in the back of neck and forearms. Some people complain of wheezing, changes in heart rate, and difficulty breathing. Some people claim to be sensitive to very small amounts of MSG, but no good studies have been done to determine just how little MSG can cause a reaction in the most-sensitive people. "

NEOTAME
Made by the NutraSweet, the same company that invented Aspartame. 40x as sweet as Aspartame.

*Supposedly safer and more stable so it can be used in baked goods.

*Approved by the FDA in 2002.

Partially Hydrogeninated Veggie Oil (trans fat)

Found in; Fat, oil, shortening: Margarine, crackers, fried restaurant foods, baked goods

"trans fat is even more harmful than saturated fat" (FDA)

Safety; The Harvard School of Public Health announced that Trans Fat causes about 50,000 'premature heart attack deahts' per year.

History; After the publication of it's terrible nature, many large fast food chains have stopped using them and food products must contain the amount or lack of trans fat in their ingrediants.

"the FDA considers that oil to be “generally recognized as safe,” even though it and everyone else considers it to be “generally recognized as dangerous.” "

Potassium Bromate

Banned in all of the world except the US and Japan. Bromate has been officially proven to cause cancer in animals and in 1999 it was petetioned to be removed from all food products.

Saccharin

Found in; "diet foods", soda, "sweetener packets" "Sweet N Low"

Safety; Studies show that it not only increases the 'cancer potency' of other chemicals but it causes tumors and forms of cancer in the bladder, ovaries and uterus.

History; In 1977, there were petetions to have it banned but the FDA permitted it as long as it had a warning on it. Though the FDA acknowledges it causes cancer in male rats, they feel that it would not affect humans. (BULLSHIT.) After this, other artifical sweeteners such as Aspartame became more popular. (Pick your poison?)

In 2000, the Federal Department of Assholes issued that Saccharin be removed from the 'cancer causing substances' list and no longer requires the cancer warnings.

When death by cancer rates increase, we'll know why.