Posted: 09 July 2009

Woolworths, South Africa, removes aspartame, MSG, tartrazine, and trans fats from its own-brand foods: Rich Murray 2009.07.01
http://rmforall.blogspot.com/2009_07_01_archive.htm
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1578

http://www.supermarket.co.za/news_detail.asp?ID=1596

Food democracy gets a boost from Woolies with the removal of aspartame 2009/07/01

Food democracy, the growing trend whereby consumers are flexing their muscles and influencing decisions made by big food retailers and producers, is finding a foothold in South Africa. The first big retailer to pay close attention to what customers are saying, is Woolworths. In fact, it's in response to requests from customers that Woolworths has become the first South African retailer to remove aspartame from its foods. It's not the only so-called 'artificial' sweetener to go, either. Woolworths has also removed the sweeteners saccharin and cyclamate from its own-brand foods.

"Quite a number of our customers have expressed their concern about these sweeteners. They've let us know that they don't want them in their food," explains Woolworths Food Divisional Director Julian Novak.

Novak also points out that the move is in keeping with Woolworths Good Food Journey. "Minimising the use of additives in our foods wherever possible is one of our goals," he explains. "We started by not using MSG and tartrazine several years ago. Last year we also took the step of removing added sugar from our fruit nectars, also in response to concerns among customers. Not only is this is the next logical step -- we're very pleased to say that we've been able to do it without having any impact on price."

(c) 2009 Supermarket & Retailer
PO Box 46066, Orange Grove, 2119, South Africa
15 Grove Road, Cnr 3rd Ave, Mountain View, Johannesburg

http://www.palmoiltruthfoundation.com/index2.php?option=com_content&do_pdf=1&id=682

Woolworth S. Africa to cut out trans fats

Woolworths South Africa has announced that they're targeting to be the first South African food retailer to remove hydrogenated vegetable oils (HVOs) or trans fats from their entire Woolworth brand products. They have already completed the first phase, removing trans fats from their pies, pizzas, soups, sauces, ready-meals, and party snacks. Trans fats are created by the passing of hydrogen through vegetable oil and are used in food items to impart a favourable texture and taste as well as extend shelf life. However, recent studies have found that trans fats raise LDL 'bad' cholesterol levels in blood, while reducing HDL 'good' cholesterol levels, which increases the risk of stroke and heart disease.

Cecil Mitchell, Head of Food Technology at Woolworths said, "When the trans fat issue emerged in 2003, Woolworths embarked upon a two-pronged approach to address the issue. In line with our Good Food Journey, we invested over R1 million in lab equipment to allow us to include the fatty acid profile on our nutritional information labelling so that our customers could make informed choices," Mitchell says. "We also began replacing HVOs with fats and oils that, in addition to containing no artificial colourants, have better fatty acid profiles."

"It's very important for us to ensure that we offer our customers foods that not only taste delicious, but that are better for their health. For example, we were the first South African food retailer to remove 'added' MSG and tartrazine from our foods. The removal of HVOs represents another milestone on our Good Food Journey," says Woolworths Head of Foods, Julian Novak. He adds, "We are committed not only to offering our customers a wide range of top-quality, delicious food choices, but to promoting healthy eating as part of a healthy lifestyle." Food manufacturers and restaurants worldwide have made the switch from trans fats to unsaturated palm oil, a healthier oil rich in antioxidants and vitamins such as CoQ10 and tocotrienols. New York City became the first city in the United States last year to ban trans fats from restaurants and other states have or are considering a similar move.

Palm Oil Truth Foundation
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http://www.woolworths.co.za/caissa.asp?Page=ITB4_RHContext&Post=Home

Woolworths Head Office Details

Contact Details Call Centre Operating Hours
Tel: (021) 407 9111 Fax: (021) 4073939
(International callers dial +27-21-407 9111)
custserv@woolworths.co.za Mon - Fri: 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Physical Address:
Woolworths House
93 Longmarket Street
Cape Town 8001 South Africa

Postal Address:
P.O. Box 680
Cape Town 8000
South Africa

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Woolworths_(South_Africa)

Woolworths (South Africa)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Woolworths Holdings Limited is a South African chain of retail stores and one of the largest in the country. The first Woolworths store opened in the old Royal Hotel in Cape Town in October 1931. It was founded by Max Sonnenberg assisted by his son Richard and Fred Kossuth, then 22 and an "office boy" and later a leader of the company.[citation needed]

Woolworths now incorporates a series of food stores, some of which are attached to retail stores, while others stand alone or are attached to petrol stations. Woolworths goods are sold at 149 corporate stores, 51 international franchise stores throughout the rest of Africa and the Middle East and 69 South African franchise stores nationwide.

The chain is not related to the United States chain F. W. Woolworth Company.

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Formaldehyde in FEMA trailers and other sources (aspartame, dark wines and liquors, tobacco smoke): Murray 2008.01.30: BM Kapur -- folic acid protects most people from conversion of methanol into formaldehyde and then formic acid 2009.07.01
http://rmforall.blogspot.com/2008_01_01_archive.htm
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1508

The FEMA trailers give about the same amount of formaldehyde daily as from a quart of dark wine or liquor, or two quarts (6 12-oz cans) of aspartame diet soda, from their over 1 tenth gram methanol impurity (one part in 10,000), which the body quickly makes into formaldehyde -- enough to be the major cause of "morning after" alcohol hangovers.

Methanol and formaldehyde also result from many fruits and vegetables, tobacco and wood smoke, heater and vehicle exhaust, household chemicals and cleaners, cosmetics, and new cars, drapes, carpets, furniture, particleboard, mobile homes, buildings, leather ... so all these sources add up and interact with many other toxic chemicals.

Folic acid prevents neurotoxicity from formic acid, made by body from methanol impurity in alcohol drinks [ also 11 % of aspartame ], BM Kapur, PL Carlen, DC Lehotay, AC Vandenbroucke, Y Adamchik, U. of Toronto, 2007 Dec., Alcoholism Cl. Exp. Res.: Murray 2007.11.27 [ actually, a fairly complete review of recent developments... ]
http://rmforall.blogspot.com/2007_11_01_archive.htm
Wednesday, November 27, 2007
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1495

Formaldehyde, aspartame, and migraines, the first case series, Sharon E Jacob-Soo, Sarah A Stechschulte, UCSD, Dermatitis 2008 May: Rich Murray 2008.07.18
http://rmforall.blogspot.com/2008_07_01_archive.htm Friday, July 18, 2008
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1553

Dermatitis. 2008 May-Jun; 19(3): E10-1.
Formaldehyde, aspartame, and migraines: a possible connection.
Jacob SE, Stechschulte S.
Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Surgery,
University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA.

Aspartame is a widely used artificial sweetener that has been linked to pediatric and adolescent migraines.

Upon ingestion, aspartame is broken, converted, and oxidized into formaldehyde in various tissues.

We present the first case series of aspartame-associated migraines related to clinically relevant positive reactions to formaldehyde on patch testing. PMID: 18627677

Formaldehyde from many sources, including aspartame, is major cause of Allergic Contact Dermatitis, SE Jacob, T Steele, G Rodriguez, Skin and Aging 2005 Dec.: Murray 2008.03.27
http://rmforall.blogspot.com/2008_03_01_archive.htm
Thursday, March 27, 2008
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1533

"For example, diet soda and yogurt containing aspartame (Nutrasweet), release formaldehyde in their natural biological degradation.

One of aspartame's metabolites, aspartic acid methyl ester, is converted to methanol in the body, which is oxidized to formaldehyde in all organs, including the liver and eyes. 22

Patients with a contact dermatitis to formaldehyde have been seen to improve once aspartame is avoided. 22

Notably, the case that Hill and Belsito reported had a 6-month history of eyelid dermatitis that subsided after 1 week of avoiding diet soda. 22"

Avoiding formaldehyde allergic reactions in children, aspartame, vitamins, shampoo, conditioners, hair gel, baby wipes, Sharon E Jacob, MD, Tace Steele, U. Miami, Pediatric Annals 2007 Jan.: eyelid contact dermatitis, AM Hill, DV Belsito, 2003 Nov.: Murray 2008.03.27
http://rmforall.blogspot.com/2008_03_01_archive.htm
Thursday, March 27, 2008
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1532

Sharon E. Jacob, MD, Assistant Professor of Medicine
(Dermatology), University of California, San Diego
200 W. Arbor Drive #8420, San Diego, CA 92103-8420
Tel: 858-552-8585 ×3504 Fax: 305-675-8317
sjacob@contactderm.net

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1508
Formaldehyde in FEMA trailers and other sources (aspartame, dark wines and liquors, tobacco smoke): Murray 2008.01.30
http://rmforall.blogspot.com/2008_01_01_archive.htm
Wednesday, January 30, 2008

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1490
Details on 6 epidemiological studies since 2004 on diet soda (mainly aspartame) correlations, as well as 14 other mainstream studies on aspartame toxicity since summer 2005: Murray 2007.11.27

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1340
Aspartame groups and books: updated research review of 2004.07.16: Murray 2006.05.11

Opportunities re BA Magnuson, GA Burdock et al., Aspartame Safety Evaluation 2007 Sept., Critical Reviews in Toxicology: Rich Murray 2008.07.11
http://rmforall.blogspot.com/2008_07_01_archive.htm
Friday, July 11, 2008
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1550

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"Of course, everyone chooses, as a natural priority, to enjoy peace, joy, and love by helping to find, quickly share, and positively act upon evidence about healthy and safe food, drink, and environment."

Rich Murray, MA
Room For All rmforall@comcast.net
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Santa Fe, New Mexico 87505
505-501-2298

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