This is what Dr. Harriet Buchko said today at the Food Industries Association's 2007 Food in the New Era conference
Dr. Harriet Buchko
"The myths that exist among the general public regarding various diseases supposedly caused by the use of artificial sweeteners, are nothing more than accusations that lack any scientific basis," said Dr. Harriett H. Butchko, a neurologist from the United States and author of a book on Food additives and sweeteners, which was hosted at a food conference in the new era of the Food Industries Association in the Israel Manufacturers Association.
At the conference, which was held at the Avenue Convention Center in the Airport City Business Park, Dr. Buchko debunked the common myths about artificial sweeteners and said: "When you look at where the myths come from, you find that they originate from creative people who are not scientists but have the ability to spread across the Internet and among the public, opinions, Inventions and half-truths".
Dr. Buchko emphasized that: "Although some consumers think that sweeteners are unsafe due to these myths, according to many scientific studies carried out by doctors and scientists considered at senior academic institutions around the world, who tested the safety of using sweeteners, these claims have been proven to be false."
"There are several types of sweeteners such as aspartame, saccharin, cyclamate, sucralose and acesulfame K. Usually, aspartame is the main sweetener of concern. But it is important to emphasize that the distributors of the information are not scientists, and of course all these stories are not true," said Dr. Buchko. "The institutions responsible for public health and safety in the United States and Europe have re-examined these repeated claims and continue to confirm that aspartame is safe for use. During the month of April 2007, the FDA, the American Food and Drug Administration, published its conclusions from these tests and stated that the FDA found no reason to change the previous decision, which states that aspartame is a safe sweetener for general use in the food industry.
"When people hear stories about artificial sweeteners, they shouldn't believe them. Stories and accusations about phenomena and diseases as a result of the use of artificial sweeteners have been unequivocally proven to be false."
The doctor, who currently serves as a manager at the American consulting company Hayston, added that: "Scientific studies and re-evaluation were carried out for years to meet the requirements of the health authorities and prove the safety of the product, including testing the safety of use on the development of the fetus during pregnancy. These studies were carried out using portions that are a hundred times larger than what the consumer actually consumes, to ensure the safety of consumption throughout life. These studies go through strict evaluations by the health institutions before the approval is given to the product. The comprehensive research and unequivocal conclusions regarding artificial sweeteners assure the consumer public that it is possible to maintain health and control obesity safely without giving up the sweet taste."
"Humans are born with a clear preference for sweet taste. As a doctor, I see every day people dealing with obesity and diseases like diabetes. Artificial sweeteners give them more options to deal with the need for sweets. It is true that you can avoid sugar, but why not enjoy a sweet taste?" concluded Dr. Buchko.
Dr. Harriet Buchko, a neurologist, holds a degree from Northwestern University, in Chicago, Illinois, United States, and also holds a bachelor's degree in biochemistry from the University of Georgia in Atlanta. Wrote a book on food additives and sweeteners and serves as a manager at the American consulting company Hayston. Dr. Buchko was a guest today at the food industry conference in the new era of the Food Industries Association, in the Israel Manufacturers Association, which was held at the Avenue Conference Center in the Airport City Business Park.
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Sugar and corn syrup in the US are more powerful than the oil industry??? Please explain
Still, it reminds a little of the speakers (also doctors or scientists) of the cigarette industry some years ago, who said that "there is no evidence that smoking causes disease".
There are always interests and you should try to see through them.
Still, a point to think about - the producers of sugar and corn syrup in the USA are more powerful than the oil industry. They have an interest in saying that the substitutes are not good. All in all, they give a mouse an amount that a person does not consume in his entire life. Of course, in such quantities it is not good, but in reasonable quantities it may be OK, what if there are sweeteners that are based on sugar.
Obviously this is what will be said at the industry conference on artificial sweeteners. They hide the scientific evidence that points to the exact opposite, and state as a (distorted and misleading) statement that the evidence is that the sweeteners are harmless.