The Food and Drug Administration

Food & Drink Weekly, Sept 24, 2007

A plan by Coca-Cola Co. to use a naturally low-calorie sweetener made from Stevia in its soft drinks has been delivered a blow, after U.S. health regulators described it as an "unsafe food additive". Food firm Hain Celestial has been using Stevia, which is a South American herb, in some of its herbal teas.

However, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) wrote the company a letter last month, warning it that the sweetener could pose a health danger. In particular it could damage reproductive, cardiovascular and kidney systems and affect blood sugar levels, it said, citing literature reports into its safety. The FDA published the letter September 18. Cargill is developing a Stevia-based sweetener for Coca-Cola Co and the two companies are in the process of seeking FDA approval to use it in food. At present it can only be sold as a dietary supplement in the United States but it has been approved in ten or so countries, including Japan, China and Brazil. The sweetener would be an alternative to high fructose corn syrup and artificial sweeteners such as aspartame and sucralose.