Nutrition News - Aspartame Making Headlines....Again!

Those of you who regularly read this blog know that we usually post topics that are related to how chiropractic or physiotherapy can help keep you healthy. But addressing nutrition news is timely with a recent development in the food industry.  Two large dairy industry organizations are trying to add aspartame to flavoured milk.  Why?  The dairy industry has, to their credit, been honest about the reasons.  Primarily, it is trying to stem the tide of slowing sales of flavoured milk.  Parents and schools, especially south of the border have become increasingly concerned about the high caloric content of these products.  This has caused sales to dip.  The diary industry hopes that by lowering the caloric content without sacrificing sweetness, it can help boost sales.  Typically, when a product contains an artificial sweetener, it has some type of front-of-package label such as "reduced sugar" or "reduced calorie".  This is the label the dairy industry is trying to avoid.  It is petitioning the Food and Drug Administration in the US for an exemption that will not force it to have to include such labelling.  It is important to note that aspartame will still have to be included on the ingredients list.  Careful food shoppers know that the "reduced calorie" label is a tip-off that artificial sweeteners have been added.  But many other shoppers may not bother to check, especially in a product thought to be so "wholesome" by so many.  Regardless of whether the front-of-package label becomes required or not, the addition of aspartame to any food product should be cause for concern.  Aspartame is already added in a staggering number of food products including cereal, yogurt and chewing gum. The Centre for Science in the Public Interest warns that increased risks of cancer development are very real according to Italian studies in 2005 and 2007. Newer studies would certainly help, but the question must be asked...is it really worth it? Read the ingredient lists, read the research and make an informed decision about the foods you and your family eat.