Methanol: Byproduct of Aspartame Linked to Autism, Preterm DeliveryPatrick Gallagher There have been, however, several dozen studies on just how harmful the purely artificial sweetener actually is for the human body, mostly ignored by the general populace who still consumes just as much of the sweetener as before. Among these studies is a comprehensive one on Methanol, the primary alcoholic component used in the production of aspartame. A retired food scientist and Professor Emeritus of Food Science and Nutrition at the Arizona State University Dr. Woodrow Monte describes how the toxic chemical methanol and its use in the production of aspartame and other chemicals could be a main factor in causing spina bifida, preterm delivery, multiple sclerosis, cancer, and more recently, autism in young children. It is also the primary factor in developing other chronic diseases and health conditions. What he discovered would undermine aspartame entirely if given enough attention: methanol is formed in the body as formaldehyde, known to cause cancer and generally be highly damaging to human health. He has also determined that methanol metabolizes in many other organs of the body, not just the liver. He had this to say on his own website, whilesciencesleeps.com: Methanol is particularly dangerous to humans, more so than any other animal [] When humans consume low doses of methanol it is metabolized directly into formaldehyde which is a cancer producing agent of the same level of danger as asbestos and plutonium. Explore More: This article first appeared at Natural Society, an excellent resource for health news and vaccine information. 