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Is Stevia Safe to Eat?

Sheri Cyprus
Sheri Cyprus

The South American herb stevia is a natural sweetener. Many people accustomed to cooking with herbs feel that eating it must be safe because it's natural. Some studies have shown that it may cause liver problems in rats, but the interpretation of these results has been criticized. Further studies have not indicated that it is dangerous, although many experts advise continued testing.

Stevia is approved for use as a sweetener in parts of Asia and South America, but is banned in most of Europe. Although it was originally banned for use as a sweetener in the United States in 1991, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a purified form called rebaudioside A (Reb A) in 2008. In addition, it can be packaged and sold in the US as a nutritional supplement.

Stevia may be used to sweeten beverages.
Stevia may be used to sweeten beverages.

Since the FDA approved the purified form, sweetener made from stevia has become available in many grocery stores in the US. It has also been incorporated into some soft drinks and foods, as more corporations develop their own brand versions of the sweetener. As a nutritional supplement, it may also be found in health food stores. It should be noted that only the Reb A form has been approved for use as a food additive in the US; the plant itself and other extracts from it are not permitted.

Some studies have shown that stevia may cause liver problems in rats.
Some studies have shown that stevia may cause liver problems in rats.

Countries such as China, Japan, and Brazil have also approved stevia as a sweetener. Japan is especially known for its intensive testing of he herb; researchers there concluded that it has no harmful health effects. These Japanese studies are believed to have helped influenced the FDA enough to approve it as a food supplement.

Stevia is derived from the Stevia rebaudiana plant native to Paraguay. It is 300 times sweeter than sugar, yet free of calories. In American health food stores, it is often packaged and sold in jars with eye droppers. It can also be bought as a sweetener to replace sugar in recipes. Japan uses about 40% of the world's stevia. It is approved there for use in diet soft drinks and is used in Japan rather than sweeteners such as aspartame.

Discussion Comments

anon114219

I'm sure the only reason stevia was banned in the us is because the shareholders of products like aspartame and sweet-&-low would take a hit. Think of how many "diet" products use those ingredients! Stevia is natural if you buy it natural.

I'm not sure the brands that are trying to mainstream it are keeping it natural. It doesn't measure cup-for-cup to sugar because it's sweeter (if it does it's full of "fillers"). And it's not naturally white and crystal-like. Check out your local health food store to get the pure extract.

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    • Stevia may be used to sweeten beverages.
      By: absolutimages
      Stevia may be used to sweeten beverages.
    • Some studies have shown that stevia may cause liver problems in rats.
      By: lculig
      Some studies have shown that stevia may cause liver problems in rats.
    • The stevia plant is native to South America, where it has been used as a sweetener for centuries.
      By: Iryna Volina
      The stevia plant is native to South America, where it has been used as a sweetener for centuries.
    • Japan and other countries have approved stevia for use in diet soft drinks.
      By: Deyan Georgiev
      Japan and other countries have approved stevia for use in diet soft drinks.
    • Stevia is derived from the Stevia rebaudiana plant.
      Stevia is derived from the Stevia rebaudiana plant.
    • Some cooks substitute stevia for refined sugar when baking cookies and other sweet desserts.
      By: al62
      Some cooks substitute stevia for refined sugar when baking cookies and other sweet desserts.
    • Stevia may be used as a zero calorie sweetener in homemade juices.
      By: verca
      Stevia may be used as a zero calorie sweetener in homemade juices.