France first in Europe to anticipate Stevia approval
Food manufacturers in France are
hoping to be the first in Europe to use the high-intensity stevia extract
Rebaudioside-A (also known as Reb A and Rebiana), before the rest of
continent receives full approval, reported Food Navigator USA. Read more..http://www.ausfoodnews.com.au/2009/06/02/france-first-in-europe-to-anticipate-stevia-approval.html
Is Stevia Safe?
The
Joint Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA), an independent,
international expert panel administered by the United Nations and
World Health Organization, has conducted a thorough scientific
review of all the available scientific data on steviol glycosides,
including rebaudioside A (used in rebiana) and concluded that they
are safe for their intended use - to sweeten foods and beverages and
established a permanent Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI) level. (see
http://www.fao.org/ag/agn/agns/files/jecfa69_final.pdf)
In
December 2008, the US Food and Drug Administration (US FDA) stated
it had no objection to the conclusion of an expert panel that
rebaudioside A is generally recognized as safe (GRAS) for use as a
general purpose sweetener. Prior to this, stevia-based
ingredients were only permitted for use as a dietary supplement in
the U.S.
Geneva 2005
The WHO Committee noted that stevioside has shown some evidence of pharmacological effects in patients with hypertension or with type-2 diabetes at doses corresponding to about 12.5–25mg/kgbw per day
(equivalent to 5–10mg/kgbw per day expressed as steviol). The evidence available at present was inadequate to assess whether these pharmacological effects would also occur at lower levels of dietary
exposure, which could lead to adverse effects in some individuals (e.g. those with hypotension or diabetes). The Committee therefore decided to allocate a temporary ADI, pending submission of further
data on the pharmacological effects of steviol glycosides in humans.
World Health Organization Findings on Stevia: Evidence Shows Stevia Affects Patients With Hypertension and Type 2 Diabetes:
Is Stevia Legal in Canada?
According to the NHPD Monthly Communiqué publication of Health
Canada's Natural Health Products Directorate (NHPD), Vol. 2, Issue 1
- September 2006, NHPD has adopted provisional guidelines for the
use of Stevia and stevioside in natural health products. These
guidelines are stated in the Health Canada web page below:
Health Canada Guidelines for the Use of Stevia in Natural Health Products
ARTICLES ON STEVIA:
Coca-Cola, Pepsi Launch Stevia-Sweetened Drinks
Cargill rolling out natural, no-calorie sweetener
STEVIA REFERENCES AND RESEARCH STUDY
Stevia by Science Tech, Entrepreneur
