Another good reason to get rid of sugar subsidies

Stevia: The 'Holy Grail' of Sweeteners?

Plant Extract Could Become Additive in Processed Foods Pending FDA Approval

By ELISABETH LEAMY
Dec. 2, 2008 — ABC News

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is expected to soon decide the future of what some in the food industry are calling the holy grail of sweeteners, a low-calorie, natural substance derived from the South American stevia plant. The particular strain of stevia being considered for approval is called Rebaudioside A.

Stevia has been used in Paraguay for centuries and in Japan for decades. It is currently available in the United States mostly in specialty stores and only as a nutritional supplement. Nutritional supplements are regulated less rigorously than other food and drug substances.

What the FDA must decide is whether Rebaudioside A is safe enough to be used as an additive in processed foods, where consumers may not realize it is there. If approved, it would likely be used in massive quantities of processed foods and drinks.

The sweetener is considered "natural," but that has not silenced some voices of concern.

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