Stevia FAQ
What is stevia?
What is the difference between stevia and other sweeteners?
What are the health benefits of stevia?
What is the difference between a food additive and a dietary supplement?
Where is stevia approved as a food additive?
When will stevia be approved in the U.S. and Canada?
Does stevia taste like sugar?
What is rebiana?
- What is stevia?
Stevia, or Stevia Rebaudiana Bertoni, is a type of shrub indigenous to Paraguay whose leaves have been used for more than 200 years to sweeten food and beverages. In 1931, two French chemists isolated the glycosides that give stevia its sweet taste. Today, stevia is grown commercially and used in many countries around the world. Because it is 100% natural, has zero calories, and is suitable for baking, many believe that stevia will eventually replace the use of artificial sugars.
- What is the difference between stevia and other sweeteners?
Stevia is 100% natural. It has zero calories and is derived from the leaf of a plant. It does not include any added chemicals. GLG produces only the purest, most refined form of stevia by extracting the sweet component (Rebaudioside A) and separating it from impurities. This produces a superb taste with no lingering aftertaste. Further, stevia is stable at high temperatures (thus safe for cooking purposes) and has been shown in clinical trials to have many health benefits.
- What are the health benefits of stevia?
Because stevia is natural and derived from the leaf of a plant, it does not contain any harmful chemicals often found in artificial sweeteners. Stevia is safe for diabetics, has been shown to help prevent tooth decay, and has even been recommended by the World Health Organization for use as a treatment for hypertension. By replacing sugar with stevia, consumers could potentially decrease caloric intake, helping to reduce obesity and other associated health risks.
- What is the difference between a food additive and a dietary supplement?
The Food and Drug Administration of the United States defines a food additive as any substance whose intended use is to become a component of any food. A dietary supplement is defined as a substance intended to supplement the diet which includes such products as vitamins, herbs or other botanicals and which is generally taken as a pill, tablet, capsule, or liquid.
- Where is stevia approved as a food additive?
Currently, stevia is approved as a food additive in many countries such as China, Japan, Paraguay, Korea, Brazil, Israel, Malaysia and Taiwan. In Paraguay, it has been used for over 200 years to sweeten food and beverages. In other parts of the world, stevia is very widely used and even now accounts for over 40% of the sweetener market in Japan.
- When will stevia be approved in the U.S. and Canada?
Comprehensive research studies are underway by many experts around the world to establish the safety of stevia. Currently, it is approved as a food additive in many countries in Asia and South America. However, the United States has only approved stevia as a dietary supplement and Canada has only permitted it to be sold as a natural health product. The FDA, in conjunction with others such as the World Health Organization, continue to study stevia to ensure its safety for consumers.
- Does stevia taste like sugar?
GLG is able to produce highly refined grades of stevia that model very closely the taste of sugar. Lower grades of stevia often found on the market today sometimes leave behind a lingering aftertaste or bitter flavor due to leftover impurities in the product. GLG produces only high quality stevia to provide consumers with a lasting, consistently sweet taste.
- What is rebiana?
Rebiana is a stevia-based sweetener jointly developed by international food and agricultural supplier Cargill and leading beverage giant Coca Cola. Rebiana has zero calories and is expected to help meet consumer demand for natural, reduced-calorie food and beverage options. Further information can be found at www.allaboutrebiana.com.
