...“Aspartame: Sweet Friend or Bitter Enemy?” Responding to the Public (Week 5 Alternative Assignment) HCS 539 What is Aspartame? “Human beings have an attraction to sweet food. Even ancient cave paintings at Arana in Spain exhibit a Neolithic man procuring honey from a bee’s nest. (Blachford, 2002). Aspartame is the name for a non-carbohydrate, non-nutritive artificial sweetener. It is synthesized from two amino acids, aspartic acid and the essential amino acid phenylalanine. It is the most commonly used sugar substitute on the market. It was first isolated and discovered in 1965 by James M. Schlatter. Schlatter was a chemist working for G.D. Searle & Company. It was an incidental finding while Schlatter was in the process of making an anti-ulcer drug. While turning a page in his reference materials, he licked his finger, only to find it incredibly sweet. During initial safety testing, there was some early debate as to whether aspartame was carcinogenic , or cancer causing, in laboratory rats. It was subjected to further studies before it was submitted to the FDA for approval as a food additive. Aspartame was finally approved for use, in dry foods, in 1974. Searle was initially not allowed to market it until 1981. In 1980, the FDA convened a board of inquiry into the claim that aspartame could have carcinogenic properties in rats, particularly brain cancer. The board’s findings were equivocal. They found that aspartame did not cause any documented...
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...- 1. How should Vermijs expect NutraSweet to respond to the Holland Sweetener Company’s entry into the European and Canadian aspartame markets? (1) Baseline: Product: aspartame was a strong substitute of saccharin with better flavor and low calories, especially for diet soft drink. There was no other competitive product at that time. Market: Aspartame had a great potential market. |Mkt scale/Ton |US |EU |Canada |Japan |Total | |1982 |220 |30 |100 |5 |370 | |1986 |5100 |430 |120 |40 |5730 | * NutraSweet had a capability of 5,000 tons. (Not including capability from Japanese JV) Competition: NutraSweet (NS) was patent owner of aspartame and market leader of aspartame in US since 1970. NutraSweet monopolized aspartame market in US, European and Canadian in 1986 before HSC entered aspartame market in Europe. NS’s patent protection in Europe would expire in 1987 and 1992 in U.S. (2) Strategy of Holland Sweetener Company (HSC) Vermijs had his expectation based on its own strategy and situation NS faced. HSC had an improve aspartame products with lower produce cost and better performance of stability (supposed it was true.) HSC established Japanese JV to provide cost advantage. HSC started at Europe and Canada, which were not totally monopolized by NS. Also these markets had rigid competitive control to avoid monopoly under competition law. Therefore, Vermijs expected NS would compete price with HSC. -2. Specifically, how should Vermijs assess the relative...
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...that Aspartame is a harmless food additive: Name: “Aspartame: A review of genotoxicity data” Date: 2015 Aug 28 Issue: The data support EFSA's conclusion that aspartame is non-genotoxic. Name of the author: Prof. David Kirkland BSc CiBol Phd Background: After 2-post-doctoral fellowships at the Institute of Cancer Research, London, David joined Toxicol Laboratories Limited as Head of Mutagenicity. He was a president of the European Environmental Mutagen Society from August 2009- 2011 has edited 3 books on mutagenicity test guidelines, has published 90 scientific papers. He was appointed as a member of the UK Government Advisory Committee on Mutagenicity. David has been awarded Fellowship of the UKEMS and made an Honorary Professor of the University of Wales Swansea. 2. One publication is that Aspartame is a harmful food additive: Name: Studies on the effects of aspartame on memory and oxidative stress in brain of mice. Date: 2012 Dec Issue: The present study aimed to investigate the effect of repeated administration of aspartame in the working memory version of Morris water maze test, on oxidative stress and brain monoamines in brain of mice Name of the author: Prof. Omar M. E. Abdel-Salam Background: 1997 Ph.D., Medical Sciences, the Hungarian Academy of Science, Hungary 1991 M.Sc., Internal Medicine, Cairo University, Egypt 1985 B.Sc., Medical and Science, Cairo University, Egypt 3. A paragraph synopsis of opinion: Aspartame, an artificial...
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...Threats of Aspartame Article Review Aspartame is widely used through out the world. It is a product used to replace sugar in a diet. Accourding to Dr. Joseph Mercola’s October 2009 article “Artificial Sweeteners – More Dangerous than You Ever Imagined” on Mercola.com the product is very dangerous. I chose this topic as a way to prove myself right. I was hopping to find more information on why Aspartame is not bad but I was not able to. I chose this article in particular because of the in depth review of the product. The article is about the effects of Aspartame on the body but Dr. Mercola goes into the history of the product as well. Before he goes into great depth on the effects he shows the how this product came to be and the process it took to become FDA certified. According to Mercola Aspartame was found by accident. A chemist was working on some kind of chemical that would help treat Peptic Ulcer disease. The chemist realized how sweet the product was and that started the clime to creating the products for consumer use. Many test were ran on the product and most showed the negative aspects of using Aspartame. The only group Mercola mentions in the article that could find no issue with Aspartame was the Searle Company. The problem was that the Searle Company was the company trying to bring the product to market. Even the FDA found the product to be unsafe for human consumption. The FDA found flaws in Searle’s testing along with side effects such as, brain tumors in...
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...ACESULFAME K SWEETNER Tyrease White DeVry University Acesulfame K was discovered in 1967 by Karl Clause and Harald Jensen. It belongs to the dihydrooxathiazinondioxide sweetener group. It is either made of acetocetic acid derivatives or else these occur during its production as intermediate products. Ace K is not converted in the body and is excreted unchanged by the kidneys, and suitable for people with diabetes. A colorless crystal like powder that can be used for baking and cooking. Ace K has a slight after taste and is 200 times sweeter than table sugar. Acesulfame K is often blended with other sweeteners (usually sucralose or aspartame). It is also used as a sweetener in protein shakes and pharmaceutical products, especially chewable and liquid medications, where it can make the active ingredients more palatable.(2) The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have approved the general use of Ace K. Reviewers are skeptical about the use and safety of Ace K. They feel that Ace K was not studied adequately and may cause carcinogenic (CANCER) and affect prenatal development. Long term exposure to methylene chloride can cause nausea, headaches, and mood problems, impairment of the liver and kidneys, problems with eyesight. Acesulfame-K may contribute to hypoglemica. (3) There are no facts that state that Ace K causes obesity. Acesulfame K is not metabolized, it contributes no calories. By substituting Acesulfame K for sugar in foods and beverages, calories can be...
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...Product History Aspartame * White powder * Made of L- aspartic acid, L-phenylalanine, methanol * 180 times sweeter than sugar * When exposed to high temperatures becomes unstable * Limited shelf life in soft drinks * Cost $85-$90 per pound * Accidently Discovered by G.D. Searle & Co. in U.S. Monsanto * Headquarters in St. Louis, Missouri * Leader in the US in production of agricultural products, plastics and specialty chemicals, performance materials and industrial control equipment * Summer of 1985 G.D. Searle was acquired by Monsanto Corporation * Searle developed markets for aspartame as a food and beverage additive * By 1986, Searle had built the NutraSweet to reach up to sales of $711 million. Tosoh Corporation * 1935 began as producer of soda ash and caustic soda * Since 1935 the company grown to become a diversified manufacturer of basic chemicals, intermediates, and downstream products, as well as scientific instruments and ceramics * Tosoh brought to the hook-up with DSM a patented process for manufacturing aspartame that employed a natural catalyst to solve the problem of achieving a precise coupling between the aspartic acid and phenylalanine inputs * Process was capable of using either L-Phenylalanine or D, L-Phenylalanine DSM * Based in Heerlen, the Netherlands * Company began as “Dutch State Mines” * Was a chemical group with interest in plastics, synthetic rubber, fine elements...
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...Holland Sweetener Case Write Up 1.How should Holland Sweetener expect NutraSweet to respond to its entry into Europe and Canada? Ultimately Holland Sweetener should expect NutraSweet to aggressively defend the entry into Europe and Canada. This defense is based primarily on the fact that this entrance will give NutraSweet the ability to show Holland Sweetener how it plans to subsequently defend the US Market. In 1986 Canada and Europe combined made up 550 tonnes of demand for aspartame. While this certainly was growing (expected to be 1,800 tons by 1991) it paled in comparison to the current demand in the United States market of 5,100 tonnes (expect to be 8,000) tonnes in 1991. If Holland Sweetener had cost structures comparable to NutraSweet, efficiency was gained at 2,000 tonnes of aspartame production, nearly four times greater than their current capacity. In addition, NutraSweet had done a fantastic job of building up brand awareness, quoted in the case study at 98% recognition of the NutraSweet logo. This is something that certainly Holland Sweetener would have no access to, making their launch even more complex. Given the overall market size and Holland Sweeteners small and likely expensive cost of production, Holland Sweetener should expect NutraSweet to engage in an all-out price war. The European and Canadian markets are not the ultimate prize; it is the United States Market. NutraSweet needs to get Holland America to go bankrupt before the...
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...Analysis of an argument 1. The following appeared as part of an annual report sent to stockholders by Olympic Foods, a processor of frozen foods. “Over time, the costs of processing go down because as organizations learn how to do things better, they become more efficient. In color film processing, for example, the cost of a 3-by-5-inch print fell from 50 cents for five-day service in 1970 to 20 cents for one-day service in 1984. The same principle applies to the processing of food. And since Olympic Foods will soon celebrate its twenty-fifth birthday, we can expect that our long experience will enable us to minimize costs and thus maximize profits.” Discuss how well reasoned you find this argument. In your discussion be sure to analyze the line of reasoning and the use of evidence in the argument. For example, you may need to consider what questionable assumptions underlie the thinking and what alternative explanations or counterexamples might weaken the conclusion. You can also discuss what sort of evidence would strengthen or refute the argument, what changes in the argument would make it more logically sound, and what, if anything, would help you better evaluate its conclusion. Citing facts drawn from the color-film processing industry that indicate a downward trend in the costs of film processing over a 24-year period, the author argues that Olympic Foods will likewise be able to minimize costs and thus maximize profits in the future. In support of this conclusion...
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...Baumer Foods has been making Crystal Hot Sauce since 1923 and over the years since it has been on the market, it has become a Louisiana icon. In fact, it is the most popular Louisiana hot sauce within Louisiana; you will find a bottle on many restaurant tables in New Orleans. The burning question here is what sets this sauce apart? Below we will look at what goes into Crystal Hot Sauce. The Ingredients List for Crystal Hot Sauce The ingredients on the label are: Aged Cayenne Peppers Distilled Vinegar Salt That's all there is to it. Crystal Hot Sauce is made up of three basic ingredients, all of which contribute to its flavor. The Peppers in Crystal Hot Sauce The cayenne peppers in Crystal Hot Sauce have a Scoville rating of between 30,000 and 50,000, which makes them 10 times as hot as a jalapeno. However, the sauce itself offers a relatively mild heat of 2,000 to 4,000 Scoville Heat Units. Cayenne peppers originated in the Cayenne Region of French Guiana and are named for it. In Crystal hot sauce, they have been aged. Aging results in fermentation, which gives the peppers a mellower and more complex flavor that can be detected in the final product. Fermentation also boosts the sauce's nutritional value as it utilizes bacteria that can be beneficial for gut health. The Other Ingredients in Crystal Hot Sauce Aside from the peppers, Crystal Hot Sauce also contains distilled white vinegar which serves as a complement to the heat of the peppers. Its acidic...
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...It can be found in restaurants, local grocery stores and even in our homes. Aspartame, an artificial sweetener that is widely used in the products we consume daily and commonly known to be used in diet sodas. Aspartame quickly gained this popularity through its claims of being a healthier and less caloric alternative to regular added sugar. Now whether these claims can be trusted or not is where things start to become a bit skewed. On one hand, we have people arguing that aspartame is completely harmless, while others on the flip side, believe that any dose of aspartame is dangerous and has even been linked with cancer, diabetes, and many other diseases. So who do we believe? Let’s begin with some background information on this sweet controversy....
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...fanatics who are now calling these options worse than the original. A chemical known as aspartame is commonly used in drinks as a replacement for sugar since it is sweeter, allowing companies to use smaller amounts to keep the calorie count low. When it was first introduced and approved during the 80’s and 90’s, tests showed that it did not have negative health effects of rats, however those studies are now being called into question for...
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...1. Aspartame Where it’s commonly found: Several sugar substitute products; in food labeled ‘diet’ or ‘sugar free’; drink mixes; low-calorie frozen desserts; chewing gum; Kool-Aid; Jello; and so on What it is: Artificial sweetener Why you should never eat it: Aspartame is a neurotoxin and carcinogen. It is known to erode intelligence, affect short-term memory, cause brain tumours, lymphoma, diabetes, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, emotional disorders (e.g. depression and anxiety attacks), dizziness, headaches, nausea, mental confusion, migraines and seizures. 2. Trans Fat Where it’s commonly found: Margarine; chips and crackers; baked goods; fast foods; fried foods What it is: Trans fat is labelled in the Nutrition Facts on the package. It is essentially a preservative used to extend the shelf life of a product....
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...With high-calorie, high-fat, cheap food available on every street corner, it has become easy to blame food consumption for America’s obesity epidemic. However, what we choose to drink can affect our health just as much as, if not more than, our eating habits. That is why more and more people are cutting high-calorie sodas and going for little-to-no calorie, supposedly healthier options. Sure, we’re told that drinking eight glasses of water daily should be one of our health goals, but drinking only water can get a little boring. And why would a person choose to pack on the extra 155 calories from that can of Coca-Cola when she can have a can of Diet Coke and get almost the same taste for no calories? Diet sodas attempt to cut the calories that are in regular soda by developing sweeteners that don’t contain the calories of corn syrup, which is used in regular soda. Even though they do not contain calories, though, these sweeteners still do pose some potentially serious health concerns. There are many reasons people prefer soft drinks to juice or plain water. Most sodas have a taste that water can’t compare to. Some people like the light, citrusy flavors of 7Up and Sprite, while others go for a sweeter tasting soda, like Coca-Cola. They’re all carbonated, so the fizziness adds to the already-sweet flavor. But even though there are tons of different flavors, most of the non-diet soda is sweetened with the same thing: corn syrup, which is being used as a cheaper alternative to sugar...
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...Competition: The Holland Sweetner Company vs. NutraSweet (A) Jon Bain-Chekal Introduction: The worldwide aspartame market has enjoyed patent protected financial prosperity since the early 1980’s. In 1986 the world demand for aspartame was 5,730 tons annually with future projected world demand reaching 10,000 tons annually, a 75% increase over 1986 demand. The Monsanto Corporation, the current owner of the rights to manufacture aspartame, under the brand name NutraSweet (NS), reported 1986 sales of $711 million. The estimated ROA was approximately 8%.1 With this being such an attractive industry, companies like Holland Sweetener Company (HSC) needed to determine whether or not to compete in the aspartame business. This paper will first analyze NS’s case for accommodating or deterring entry before turning to a discussion as to which strategy NS will actually choose. Given the above analysis the paper will briefly address what Holland Sweetener Company’s entry strategy should be. There are several industry factors that will affect how this game is played. First, the two versions of aspartame, as produced by HSC and NS, are relatively identical goods. This leaves the consumer indifferent to product attributes and only concerned with price. It is also assumed that geography is not a real strategic factor since shipping costs are so low. The shipping costs for a pound of aspartame average 15-20 cents.2 Compared to the 1986 market price of $70 per pound shipping costs only account for...
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...dark or demerara sugar, contains 97.33g of carbohydrates, 1.77g of water, .008mg of Thiamine, .007g Riboflavin, .082mg Niacin(B3), .026mg of Vitamin B6, 85mg Calcium, 1.91mg Iron, 29mg Magnesium, 22mg Phosphorus, 346mg Potassium, 39mg Sodium, and .18mg Zinc.Wiki.com Sugar Substitute is an additive that gives the effect of real granulated sugar, usually with fewer calories and less food energy. Wiki.com There are two types of sugar substitutes, natural and synthetic. Some call the synthetic sugars Artificial Sweeteners. The majority of sugar substitutes approved for food use are artificially synthesized elements. Natural sugar substitutes like sorbitol or xylitol are found in fruits and vegetables. Other forms of artificial sweeteners are Aspartame (Equal), Cyclamate (which...
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