Thursday, September 04, 2008
Lawmaker wants artificial sweeteners banned (3:53 p.m.)
MANILA - A partylist lawmaker has filed a bill that seeks to ban from the local market the artificial sweeteners that contain food additive aspartame, which is reportedly dangerous to health.
Rep. Narciso D. Santiago III (Partylist, ARC) said the Nutrasweet, Spoonful and Equal Measure are reportedly some of the sugar substitutes or sweeteners that contain the dangerous food additive aspartame, which are widely sold.
House Bill 4747 seeks to ban the use of aspartame on food, beverages and drugs such as instant breakfasts, cereals, frozen dessert, gelatin dessert, yogurt, milk drinks, shake mixes, cocoa mixes, beverages such as coffee, tea and juice, soft drinks, table top sweeteners, topping mixes, wine coolers, breath mints, sugar-free chewing gum, multivitamins as well as pharmaceuticals and supplements.
It also seeks to penalize an individual or officers of a manufacturing or distributing corporation or company who shall violate any of the provision of this act with a fine ranging from P100,000 to P500,000.
The ban on aspartame, he said, is in line with the State policy to establish and maintain an effective food and drug regulatory system and undertake appropriate health manpower development and research, responsive to the country's health needs and problems.
He explained that researchers and physicians studying the adverse effects of aspartame found out that the following chronic illnesses can be triggered or worsened by ingesting aspartame: brain tumors, multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, chronic fatigue syndrome, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, mental retardation, lymphoma, birth defects, fibromyalgia and diabetes.
Of the 90 different documented symptoms caused by aspartame were headaches, dizziness, seizures, nausea, numbness, muscle spasms, weight gain, rashes, depression, fatigue, irritability, tachycardia, insomnia, vision problems, hearing loss, heart palpitations, breathing difficulties, anxiety attacks, slurred speech, loss of taste, tinitus, vertigo, memory loss, and joint pain. (PNA/Sunnex) |
