I remember when NutraSweet first came out. I liked it and started using it. I drank diet sodas (a couple each day) and used it in my coffee. After a year I became mysteriously ill. I had headaches and was nauseous most of the time. I would have dizzy spells. The doctors could find anything wrong. I became desperate after being so sick for so long and eliminated everything that contained chemicals from my life–I even quit smoking I was so desperate to find some relief. I only ate food I made myself from fresh ingredients–no prepared mixes. I finally felt well again. In time, I added things back into my diet. (I even went back to smoking–oh well) but the one thing that turned out to be a trigger was the NutraSweet. A year after I quit using it I wondered if maybe I had just been consuming too much so I tried 1 diet soda. I had the worst reaction I had ever had. I had the airplane spins and was sick as though I’d been drinking lots of alcohol (I hadn’t had any alcohol). I’ve avoided it religiously since. Sometimes sodas get mixed up in a restaurant. Even a small amount makes me sick to my stomach.
I am concerned because my reaction and others seem to be neurologically related.
I am very concerned because they now use it in children’s food. Everyone is so worried about Joe Camel appealing to children–what about NutraSweet!
It’s scary to think the affects it could have on children as they are developing. Yet it’s put in foods that are specifically targeted to children. I don’t get it. I cringe every time I note a new children’s product with it.
And now that it’s going off patent people can’t rely on seeing the NutraSweet trademark prominently displayed. Now people like me will have to read ingredients labels carefully. Most won’t even notice. People will be less likely to suspect they are having a reaction to it when it becomes an ordinary food additive like riboflavin so reactions to it will be less likely to be diagnosed.
At least get it out of children’s food!