converts this methanol into formaldehyde". In 1974, neuroscience researcher, Dr. John Olney, from the Washington School of Medicine in St. Louis, Missouri and consumer attorney, James Turner, investigated the research performed by S. D. Searle on aspartame and concluded it was flawed. These two men were instrumental in influencing the FDA to withhold its approval of aspartame from August to December of 1974. However, Searle Drugs vigorously lobbied Federal and Congressional Officials to move aspartame to the market despite substantial evidence of the chemical's detrimental side effects. The FDA proclaimed in 1984 that "no evidence has been established that aspartame's methanol by-product ever reached toxic levels," saying, "Many fruit juices contain higher levels of the natural compound". However, the Medical World News in 1978 reported that the methanol content of aspartame is more than "1000" times greater than most foods under FDA's control. Aspartame is composed of three chemicals: aspartic acid, phenylalanine, and methanol. Dr. James Baich in his book, Prescription for Nutritional Healing, places aspartame in the category of a "chemical poison". Aspartame has been declared by some to be the most dangerous food additive on the market. When ingested, aspartame breaks down into three amino acids as well as methanol, a poisonous alcohol. The continuing digestive process then converts this methanol into formaldehyde. People who ingest aspartame should perhaps see their mortician and ask for an embalming discount since they will already be partially embalmed with formaldehyde when they die. When aspartame is heated above 86 degrees Fahrenheit,