Meet Stevia’s First-Approved Commercial Sweetener

No-calorie sweetener options have become big money and are far and away better tasting than their early predecessor, saccharine tablets. The newest no-calorie sugar alternative, Stevia, is a substance naturally found in the Peruvian stevia plant. With 300 times the amount of natural sweetness of the popular sugar cane we have used for centuries, Stevia has been used in sodas marketed as dietary supplements and in other countries for sweetening treats and other foods but before now was not officially approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Experts had predicted the FDA would approve before the end of the year and the market for natural-based sweeteners would rise exponentially. December is as close to the New Year as can be and seems like the perfect time for introducing new products.

Other sweeteners containing the popular sugar-substitute aspartame like NutraSweet and Sweet N’ Low, have been FDA approved for decades providing a low-calorie additive for coffee and tea drinkers everywhere. However, FDA approval doesn’t always mean regular consumption is safe or healthy, and there are many related news articles linking health problems with these artificial sweeteners.

A member of the chrysanthemum family, stevia has been used in its native country for  various uses. With over 200 varieties of the shrub, all stevia products are not created equal. There are many stevia-made products on the market right now and the newest to be given a green light from the FDA is called Truvia, developed by Cargill and owned by Coca-Cola.

Officially recognized by the FDA this week, Cargill received the notification in the form of a letter stating that they have no objection to the previously submitted research that rebaudioside A (rebiana)—Truvia’s scientific name—has been generally recognized as safe (GRAS). The letter continues to support Truvia’s safety and the research behind a panel of experts from an independent company that provided the data.

Cargill has complete confidence in this product and is elated at the recent findings that stevia-based sweeteners are now safe for use by all consumers. Marcelo Montero, president of Cargill, stated, “The FDA brought the appropriate rigor to the process and we are extremely pleased with the news.”

Cargill assures consumers that Truvia is made with only the top-quality leaves from the stevia plant, an extract known professionally as rebiana, and Cargill Health and Nutrition business director Zanna McFerson says, “The search for a great tasting natural, zero calorie sweetener has been underway for more than three decades…. Consumer demand for non-caloric, natural sweeteners has increased over the years. Truvia™ natural sweetener is the first great tasting natural zero calorie sweetener available in the U.S. to meet that growing consumer demand.”

PepsiCo has also teamed up with Merisant to produce PureVia another stevia-based sweetener, which also received the same FDA safety letter this week.

With new sodas injected with stevia now on the shelves and “generally recognized as safe,” people addicted to Equal will be able to feel guilt-free for the holidays. Another option for the holidays is to use Truvia instead of table sugar for your favorite annual goodies including cookies, cakes, and even festive drinks. As for now, there is no health risks confirmed or denied by Cargill, Merisant, or the FDA. Natural, plant-based extracts must be at least partially better than chemically-derived artificial sugar imitations that have been on the market since the 1980s. If a sweet leaf from a foreign land can put a little more pep in your step and a little more health in the soda that will be consumed, if your diet cannot absorb the qualities of real sugar, a treat or drink made with stevia might just help sweeten your day.