Benefits of Stevia Website Launched

August 29, 2009 ↓ Comments (3)

The nonprofit association Calorie Control Council launched a new website, SteviaBenefits.org, to provide “accurate and reliable information” regarding stevia, a natural, zero calorie sweetener.

The site features recipes, frequently asked questions, and links to external sites such as http://www.caloriecontrol.org, http://www.purevia.com, http://www.steviaextractintheraw.com, http://www.suncrystals.com, http://www.truvia.com, and http://www.fda.gov.

But wait a minute! Truvia? Purevia? Those are Coke and Pepsi’s trade marked brands of Stevia extract. When selecting their external links, why did the Calorie Control Council choose so few companies to plug?

I think we’re in for something big. With reports of sugar shortages and GRAS (generally recognized as safe) status given to Purevia and Truvia, the American Heart Association’s recent report about how Americans should cut down on sugar, and the launch of informative websites about Stevia such as SteviaBenefits.org, one might think we are on the edge of a national push toward eating Stevia sweetened food products.

Stevia is still considered a dietary supplement. That means you can find Stevia sold at your local health food store as if it were some kind of vitamin powder (or liquid). Until Stevia itself gets GRAS status it cannot be used in commercial food products such as cookies or candy bars. However, Coke and Pepsi have created their own versions of Stevia which are a form of Stevia-based sugar alcohol. That’s Truvia and Purevia.

I wonder if the FDA will give GRAS status approval to all Stevia based sweeteners or will they continue to only pass on patented name brand (Coke, Pepsi, etc.) versions of Stevia extracts. I know at least one Stevia company that has submitted their Stevia to the FDA for approval with no word thus far. There’s big money and politics in the sugar and Stevia industries. My hope is that Stevia gets the green light and that it turns out to be the wonder-sweetener it claims it to be.

Comments · Benefits of Stevia Website Launched

my year without
Sep 11, 2009

Wow. Lots of terrific information here! Thanks for providing this!

yoda
Dec 09, 2009

SweetLeaf Sweetener stevia was the first to receive GRAS status in March 2008, about 9 months before Truvia and PureVia, although many other sources may say otherwise.

fartygirl
May 03, 2010

While I’m super excited to hear about this new stevia site, I’m also skeptical about the push for national recognition. So many herbs have gone into near-extinction, thanks to national recognition. Can you imagine how bad it would suck if that happened to stevia? Sorry to be Debbie Downer - these are just my thoughts!