@Jenniehowell – I’ve read that sleeping with virgins will cure AIDS. Many people in South Africa follow this advice.
Just because we read something, doesn’t mean it’s true. Linking aspartame to gulf war syndrome is extremely far-fetched. In fact if anxious people who have used aspartame, say for the last 10 years take this statement at face value they might indeed become dizzy, a symptom also present in gulf war syndrome. Reason for the symptom? Aspartame? Most likely not. Anxiety based on dubious advice. Most likely, yes.
From Wikipedia: Based on government research reviews and recommendations from advisory bodies such as the European Commission’s Scientific Committee on Food and the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives, aspartame has been found to be safe for human consumption by more than ninety countries worldwide.
This is not to say that the substance is completely risk-free. The question is whether the risk is acceptable, like crossing a street or driving a car.