Manhattan Reborn 1978

new York.

A quarter past ten in the morning.

Manhattan, fourth floor, Stanley.

In the conference room.

While David was looking at the information in his hand, he was listening to "thick glasses" Manfred introduce the current application status of domestic sweeteners in the food field.

“According to the classification of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), sugar substitute sweeteners refer to food additives that can replace sugar (such as white sugar, granulated sugar, sucrose and glucose, etc.) to make foods equally sweet.”

"Generally speaking, domestic foods with added sugar substitutes are usually labeled "sugar-free" on the packaging to distinguish foods with added sugars, making it easier for people who love sweets but are afraid of getting fat to buy."

"So in TV commercials in the past few years, we often see similar slogans: sugar substitute, which allows you to enjoy delicious food while also being sweet and healthy."

"However, there are many types of sugar substitute sweeteners. According to whether they generate calories or not, they can generally be divided into two categories: nutritive sweeteners (can generate calories) and non-nutritive sweeteners (no calories)."

“The first generation of non-nutritive synthetic sweeteners, saccharin, was very popular in the 50s~”

"At that time, the weight loss trend swept across the United States and European countries, and many people began to seek low-calorie foods."

“Saccharin, a product that was previously primarily used as a sweetener for diabetics, is slowly entering the mainstream.”

“Between 1950 and 1960, as the weight loss trend continued, saccharin and a sugar substitute called cyclamate were added to a variety of products, from canned fruit to diet soda.”

"In the early 70s, as...the concept that people were safe after eating, everything seemed fine, began to fall out of fashion, and everyone began to pay attention to the chronic effects of sugar substitutes on human health."

“In 71, new animal experiments concluded that saccharin may cause bladder cancer in experimental mice; at that time, the FDA responded quickly and removed saccharin from the GRAS product list on January 1972, 1.”

(Note: GRAS is the abbreviation of Generally Recognized as Safe, which is a very important category in US food laws.)

"But the handling given by the FDA has not satisfied people who have doubts about saccharin..."

"So in 77, the FDA began to prepare to completely ban the use of saccharin in food."

"However, what countless people didn't expect is..."

"A sugar substitute business organization called Calorie Control Council ran a series of ads on television to encourage consumers who like saccharin to oppose the FDA's upcoming decision."

Manfred, who has been working at the FDA in recent years, looked at David when he was introduced, shrugged and smiled.

"According to our internal rumors, about one million domestic people have written to various departments of the FDA to oppose the saccharin ban."

"In desperation, the FDA could only require all products containing saccharin to be labeled with warnings at the end of October 77 that they may cause cancer in animals."

"one million?"

"Wow~ It seems that some people really spent a lot of money to keep Saccharin alive!"

"Hmm~" Manfred smiled in agreement and continued.

"Compared with the first-generation saccharin, the second-generation sugar substitute sweeteners have a richer range of sugar substitute types and chemical structures."

“After the first generation of artificial sweeteners, saccharin, was questioned by people, the second generation of artificial sweeteners, such as cyclamate, acesulfame potassium and aspartame, also began to be criticized by organizations opposed to artificial sweeteners. Closely."

"The second generation of sugar substitutes is mainly made of chemical synthesis, and the sweetness is not higher than that of the first generation of saccharin, but the taste is generally more natural than saccharin."

"The most representative one is one that has attracted much attention recently and is now one of the most common sugar substitutes on the market: aspartame."

"The discovery of aspartame is similar to that of saccharin, which is finger licking."

“One day in 1965, in the laboratory of GDSearle, a subsidiary of Pfizer, chemist James Schlatter was mixing two substances: aspartic acid and phenylalanine.”

"Both substances are important building blocks of proteins that Schlatter needed to develop a drug for stomach ulcers."

"During the experiment, he licked his fingers to make it easier to pick up a weighing test paper."

"So, Aspartame, whose scientific name is aspartame, was accidentally discovered..."

“But after aspartame was discovered, it also experienced various doubts and twists and turns when it was introduced to the market, just like saccharin.”

"Is aspartame really safer than saccharin?"

"There is no accurate conclusion yet on this answer."

"In 1973, eight years after the discovery of aspartame, GDSearle Company formally submitted an application to the FDA's Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, requesting FDA permission to add aspartame to dry foods."

"At that time, the FDA didn't even have animal testing guidelines for food additives."

"So they told Searle what experiments would need to be done to prove its safety if aspartame was used as a nutritional ingredient."

"In order to prove the safety of its products, Searle has submitted 168 reports to the FDA."

"Finally in 1974, after reviewing 168 of 119 reports, the FDA approved the use of aspartame in dry foods and chewing gum."

"Despite this, the FDA still requires that foods containing aspartame must carry a warning about phenylalanine."

"Because aspartame is metabolized and decomposed into phenylalanine in the human body, it cannot be effectively metabolized by patients with hereditary phenylketonuria, thus endangering the brain."

"However, even though the FDA was so cautious when it first approved aspartame and added many safety notices, doubts still persist."

"FDA rules allow the public or civil society organizations to submit formal objections within one month of the introduction of a new food policy."

"In 75, John Olney, a professor at the University of Washington School of Medicine, and James Turner, who represented the Community Nutrition Institute in the United States at the time, two long-term opponents of artificial additives, were the first to raise questions."

"Professor of Medicine John Olney discovered from previous animal experiments that aspartic acid, whether taken alone or together with glutamic acid (monosodium glutamate), may cause brain damage in experimental animals. Impairment or mental decline.”

"While preparing this question, they discovered that 320 of the 12 mice that took aspartame developed brain cancer."

"The FDA generally has two arbitration methods when dealing with this situation."

"First, at the hearing attended by the administrative judge, a lot of formal evidence needs to be produced, and this procedure requires at least six months of evidence-raising procedures;"

"Second, one of the executive committees of the Public Board of Inquiry (PBOI) will scientifically review the approval process of aspartame."

"This process generally only takes about three months."

"Professor O'Neill and others chose the second arbitration method in order to obtain the arbitration results earlier."

"But the procrastination of PBOI and the questioning of some evidence and procedures have made Professor O'Neill and others lose their patience."

"Because, nearly four years have passed today, and the FDA still has not explicitly urged PBOI to conduct a formal review of the safety of aspartame."

Manfred put the pen in his hand on the table and looked at the "seniors" José Aaron and Zod Jimenez sitting in the conference room, as well as Sam Rogers, Mu Brandes, and Bob Bob Rockefeller and the other three said with a smile.

"I am currently working on the FDA's PBOI arbitration review team."

"I work five days a week. My main job is to communicate with GDSearle, the manufacturer of aspartame, and the questioning parties, and assist the review team in selecting evidence recognized by all three parties and verifying medical and bioscientists."

"About GDSearle, I've never heard of it before..."

"But in the past two years, because GDSearle has a new president, it has immediately become one of the most concerning companies in Washington."

"The new president's name is Donald Rumsfeld."

"Forehead..?"

David was unfamiliar with this name and looked at Manfred quietly, waiting for his explanation.

But Manfred, at this moment, looked at Joss Aaron, who had been silent, and waved to him.

Under the gaze of several people, José Aaron explained with a smile on his face, leaning forward and resting his elbows on the large conference table.

"Donald Henry Rumsfeld was born in Chicago in 1932 to German immigrant parents."

"In 54, after receiving a Bachelor of Arts degree from Princeton University, he joined the U.S. Navy as a pilot and flight instructor."

"In 58, after retiring from the military, he entered the Ohio House of Representatives and served as the administrative assistant to Congressman David Dennison, and has since embarked on an official career."

“In 69, President Nixon won the election and he was appointed President Julie and Director of the Office of Economic Opportunity.”

"In the following years, he successively served as adviser to the President's Economic Advisory Council, director of the Bureau of Property Survey and director of the Cost of Living Committee, and permanent representative of the United States to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization."

"In 75, during President Ford's term, he was appointed Secretary of Defense at the age of 43, becoming the youngest Secretary of Defense in the history of the United States."

"In 77, after President Ford left office, he entered the business world and became the head of GDSearle and other companies."

(Note: This Donald H. Rumsfeld was again appointed Secretary of Defense of the United States by then President George W. Bush* in 01, becoming the first person in U.S. history to serve as Secretary of Defense twice.)

"Oh.."

David glanced at Manfred and José Aaron, then at Sam Rogers, and finally landed on Bob Rockefeller and asked.

"After listening to this, do you have any new ideas?"

"Yes!"

Young Bob looked at the people present and smiled very confidently.

"Manfred just said that there are many types of sugar substitutes. According to whether they generate calories or not, they can generally be divided into two categories: nutritive sweeteners (which can generate calories) and non-nutritive sweeteners (which have no calories). kind."

"The high fructose syrup (HFCS, also known as fructose syrup) that we want to invest in is one of the sweeteners that can generate calories."

“Due to its production raw materials and production process, it and other sweeteners that can generate calories, such as: Sorbitol (Sorbitol), mannitol (mannitol) and xylitol (xylitol), etc., are all derived from starch, blueberries, seaweed, Sweeteners extracted from directly edible food raw materials such as vegetables."

"It is not saccharin, nor is it aspartame, a non-nutritive sweetener that is artificially synthesized in a chemical laboratory!"

“This is the natural advantage that it can be widely accepted by people!”

"So, as long as we can complete the integration and acquisition of the domestic fructose syrup industry as planned, I am confident that it will become the most widely used product in the sweetener market!"

"Oh?" David heard Bob deliberately leaving a brief pause when he was speaking. He looked at Manfred with interest and asked.

"Based on your experience, how long will it take for the FDA's review process and standards for fructose syrup to be included in the GRAS catalog?"

"This..." Manfred smiled bitterly, and after thinking seriously for a moment, he replied.

"If we follow the normal procedures of declaration, application acceptance, laboratory testing and other procedures stipulated by the FDA, it will take 18 months to 30 months at the earliest, which is one and a half to two and a half years."

"Nothing~"

"If we can speed up the first few steps of the process so that it can enter the laboratory for testing faster, and get authoritative experimental data, the overall time can be compressed to less than 18 months, or even shorter."

"18 months..." David wrote down the number on the information at hand, looked at Joss Aaron and asked.

"We want to invest in integrating the domestic high fructose syrup industry chain and strive to make it the largest and internationally renowned enterprise in the country. You have already read it~"

"You have also listened to Bob and Manfred's introduction."

"How about it?"

"Are you interested in this plan?"

"..." Joss Aaron did not answer immediately. He frowned and thought seriously for a while before answering.

"I can't help you with the commercial mergers and acquisitions of fructose syrup and obtaining FDA approval."

"But I had a great chat with Mag Ludwig, the head of the lobbying company, last night~"

"If his company is short of people, I think..."

"Do you want to go to a lobbying firm in Washington?" David asked with a surprised look.

"Yeah!" Joss Aaron nodded slowly.

Jos's "junior brother", Zod Jimenez, grinned and took in his breath. He endured it again and again, and finally couldn't help but ask.

"Why are you going to lobby the company?"

"Haha~"

Joss Aaron turned to look at the people present, shrugged and smiled.

"Everyone has his or her best talent."

"My talent is speaking!"

“The lobbyists who have become more and more active in Washington in recent years have allowed me to see a different kind of life~”

“So joining a lobbying firm in Washington was definitely an opportunity for me to relearn.”

"Study...?" Zod's confusion was all "written" on his face.

David was not too surprised. He tilted his head to look at Joss Aaron and asked another very important question.

"I respect your decision and choice."

"But I must remind you a few words~"

"You just have to do what you're good at, within your interests and responsibilities."

"There is no need to worry about superfluous moral considerations or alternative values."

“The free will and core spirit represented by lobbyists are still one of the core forms of modern social democracy and political struggle!”

"If you want to be a top lobbyist, you still have a lot to learn~"

"Just relying on your innate talents may not be enough."

"so..?"

David glanced at Manfred and Zedd and smiled at Joss Aaron.

"Ma Ge is going to help me with some very important things recently. You can come with him~"

"If you feel you are not suitable to be a lobbyist, we can..."

"Okay, thank you!" Joss Aaron smiled confidently and nodded before David could finish his words.

"Uh... ok!" Seeing Jos's resolute attitude, David simply said no more, turned to look at Bob and asked.

"You and Manfred will communicate more in the past few days. After perfecting the details of the plan, the company I asked Lawyer George to register will be completed."

"Bob, you will be fully responsible for this new company."

"In the next two years, I hope you can complete our plan!"

"Okay! No problem!" Bob's eyes flashed with strange light, he straightened his chest and looked at David, and said seriously.

"Hahaha~"

David smiled, waved his hand, and teased Bob: "Don't be too eager to brag~"

Bob also smiled and replied: "Don't worry!"

"I will report to you every step of the new plan."

"Thank you for giving me this opportunity!"

"..." Several people in the conference room quietly watched David and Bob chatting and laughing with each other "full of love", and each of them had different feelings in their hearts. .

Sam Rogers, who had been paying attention to Bob and silently provided a lot of help after he came to the company, looked at the strange-looking Zod Jimenez and felt something in his heart. . There was something familiar about his appearance.

He must have seen this face somewhere. . !

----

The other side of the Pacific.

Island country, Tokyo.

It's approaching midnight~

Shinjuku area.

Kabukicho, filled with all kinds of neon lights, is still full of pedestrians~

Jeffrey Rand, an old friend of Margo Ludwig and the deputy envoy of the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo, flicked the cigarette butt in his hand to Marat Poyezhnev, who was smelling of alcohol. , joked.

"how?"

"Where else do you want to take me?"

Marat showed a smile that every man knew, moved closer to Jeffrey, and whispered.

"I heard that there are many young and beautiful girls in a private club out front. I hope I can find them..."

"Haha~" Jeffrey Rand smiled amusedly, tilted his head and looked at Marat, and said.

"We've only met twice, and you want to drag me along to recruit girls?"

"Man, we're still so familiar!"

"Hahaha~" Marat, of course knowing that he seemed a little too impatient, explained with a smile.

"What I said about going to that club to recruit girls is not what you think..."

"You know the disco that became popular in the country last year, right?"

"The club in front is a newly opened discotheque..."

"Oh~" Jeffrey stopped, blinked quickly and smiled.

"So you want to go to the disco with me...?"

"That's right!" Marat spread his arms to both sides and smiled.

"It's such a beautiful night, shouldn't we give it a try?"

"...Okay!" Jeffrey pretended to hesitate and thought for a moment, then nodded slowly.

He knew in his heart that Marat would have other intentions if he wanted to drag him to that discotheque.

But~

Jeffrey is very confident that no matter what tricks Marat can play, he will never let himself fall into the "pit"!

But what he didn't know was that Marat had no intention of letting him "fall into the trap", but had a very simple intention to have a good relationship with him. .

Because his status as deputy envoy is much more useful than ambassador in many cases. .