b'JECFAs Conflict of Interest on AspartameBY SCOTT C. TIPSA sfirstreportedbyGarybusinesses where aspartame is also heav- fices of the industry they are supposed Ruskinandthetrust- ily used as a sweetener. No wonder thento regulate than they do as guardians of worthy U.S. Right to Knowthat these companies, such as Coca-Colathe public interest their government is organizationinanewsand Pepsi, have created front groups toelected to protect.brief posted on July 19, 2023, the Jointinfluence and control government regu- In the case of JECFA and its recent de-FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Foodlators! 3 cision on an ADI for aspartame, we have Additives (JECFA) has been caught outWhile a May 2023 WHO guidelineclear signs of a conflict of interest that in a blatant conflict of interest over as- also cautions consumers not to use anyrender its scientific decisions highly partamesclassificationascarcinogen- non-sugar sweeteners for weight control,questionable. Both the chairwoman and ic. 1JECFA has once again declared thatindustry studies presented to JECFA andthe vice chairman of the JECFA aspar-the toxic artificial sweetener aspartamethe mainstream media have whitewashedtame panel have ties to ILSI, as do four is safe at the acceptable daily intakeaspartame, just as they were when sub- other panel members.(ADI)amountof40mg/kgofbodymitted to the U.S. Food and Drug Ad- Here are the ILSI-connected JECFA weight. ministration(FDA),whichoriginallypanelists who never should have partic-JECFAs position stands in stark con- approved the toxic sweetener back in theipated in any way in JECFA discussions trast to that taken by the World Health1980s. The late Dr. Betty Martini, an au- and decisions concerning aspartame or Organization (WHO) subsidiary bodythority on aspartame science, repeatedlyany other artificial sweeteners:called the International Agency for Re- demolished these feculent industry stud-search on Cancer (IARC), which in itsies and denounced the rampant conflictsDiane Benford (Chairwoman)for-July 14, 2023, hazard and risk assess- of interest that created them. 4 mer member of an ILSI Europe expert ments of aspartame classified aspartame Speaking of which, a reporter withgroupaspossiblycarcinogenic.So,whytheFrenchdailyLeParisienrecentlyRichardCantrill(Vice-Chairman) dont the two scientific bodies agree onobserved that at least six out of the thir-former participant in an ILSI Europe this issue? teen JECFA panel members have ties topanelAs many may recall, aspartame is thethe industry front group called Inter-sweetener in Diet Coca-Cola and mostnational Life Sciences Institute (ILSI). 5 Sue Barlowformer member of the other zero calorie diet drinks. World- This observation parallels those of theILSI International Food Biotechnology wide revenue projections for artificialNational Health Federations where itCommitteesweeteners(includingaspartame)forhas seen industry front groups influence Jean-Charles Leblancformer mem-the year 2023 are currently pegged atflaunted at Codex Alimentarius meet- ber of an ILSI Europe expert group$23.4 billion dollars. 2And that doesntings amidst their cozy relationships with even include the dollar value of the fin- member-state delegations and Codex sci-Josef Schlatterformer member of ished-product sales for, say, Diet Coke,ence officers. In fact, often certain CodexILSI Health and Environmental Scienc-of which aspartame is an integral ingre- member states (more accurately, the se- es Institute (HESI) board of trusteesdient. So, aspartame occupies a majorlected government representatives within Michael DiNoviformer member of market niche in the strategic marketinga member states Codex Office) seem toan ILSI Europe expert workgroupplans of soft drink companies and foodoperate more like regional branch of-20 H ealtHF reedomN ews /s ummer2023'