[big bad easter bunny]

Try and find one double blind study that proves one single claim, or don't bother I already looked. I looked for 2 days, I have diabetes and wanted to know. I could not find one single double blind study that backed a single claim. The only proof these folks ever give are testimonials. Testimonials are ussually void of fact. They tested the **** out of the stuff. I believe it is safe.

[MEG33]

I'm not going to be long for this world if Diet Coke is bad for my health!

[hardhead]

Before I ever read this, I had no opinion one way or another. My spouse is a diabetic and her and I cannot stand using aspartame - not because of what this says but it leaves an aftertaste (perceived or not, I don't know). We switched to Splenda which is a natural diabetic sweetener made from sugar (yes, we checked with our doctor and pharmacist first). It tastes like - sugar but has no carbohydrates. We have been watching the dietic foods very closely and many of them are quietly switching to Splenda. Who knows!

[gitmo]

At one time, it was the most tested food additive to ever hit the market. May still be, for all I know.

And there is no evidence coming from the medical community that it is causing a problem.

[Bluntpoint]

Anecdotal equals data.

[Itzlzha]

Testimonials are ussually void of fact. They tested the **** out of the stuff. I believe it is safe.

Do you normally use the word "safe" to describe a genetically engineered chemical that converts to FORMALDEHYDE is the human body as a by-product of digestion?

I do not. Nor do I like the fact that as a "food additive" they skirt rules that help the consumer.

Remember the saccharin scare? These folks had a hand in saccharin being labeled unsafe, yet their product is a "food additive"!

I'll stick with Stevia and Splenda...both of which are A-OK when heated...NutraSweet should not be cooked with...that "Formaldehyde" thing, y'know....

[John Lenin]

They tested the **** out of the stuff. I believe it is safe.

"They" also said eggs were linked to high cholesterol and than 20 years later changed their minds. If it tastes like poison, it probably is.

[Pablo64]

"I could not find one single double blind study that backed a single claim."

I would have to agree with your statement. I think that, as with a multitude of things, some people may have individual reactions, perhaps even allergic reactions. For instance, my younger brother can't tolerate anything with NutraSweet in it. He gets severe headaches from it. But once he figured out what was giving him the headaches (doing his own trials) he just avoids products that have it.

For myself, I don't seem to have any adverse reaction to it, despite several other food allergies that I have. We can't go around banning everything just because someone has a bad reaction to it. If that were the case no one would be allowed to have any more pecan pie because I am allergic to pecans (walnuts, too). I don't begrudge anyone their pie, just please let me know if you put any pecans or walnuts in the dessert you're serving me!

[zip]

Several years ago someone wrote an article "proving" nutrsweet caused WWII, acne, ingrown toenails, balding, car wrecks, robberies, maurder and assorted felonies. I got tired of reading these NON-SCIENTIFIC articles (never proven) and now take all of the new ones with a grain of salt. Google/AskJeeves searches never indicate decent research so I drink my diet cokes daily and plan on living to be 90.

[FairWitness]

Try and find one double blind study that proves one single claim, or don't bother I already looked. I looked for 2 days, I have diabetes and wanted to know. I could not find one single double blind study that backed a single claim.

Early on, when these types of compalints were new, we (yes, I was part of an aspartame safety evaluation group) looked for enough subjects to do a statistically valid double blind test. At that time there were simply not enough people claiming sensitivity to enroll a usable study.

[Eva]

My husband is prone to severe migrain headaches. I read that aspartame could be a trigger for some migraine sufferers and got him off diet sodas. He hasn't had a migraine since.

[auggy]

You made me feel a little better. I am diabetic too. I buy the stuff by the case.