Stevia Gets EFSA Approval

WAYZATA, Minn.The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has confirmed that steviol glycosides extracted from the Stevia rebaudiana plant are safe for use in foods and beverages. In its published Scientific Opinion, EFSA also established an acceptable daily intake (ADI) for steviol glycosides, expressed as steviol equivalents, of 4 mg per kg of body weight per daythe same ADI previously established by a Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives.

Stevia ingredients have been in widespread use in the United States for over a year since FDA granted GRAS status to Cargill, Inc.s rebaudioside-A ingredient, rebiana, in Dec. 2008.

Steviol glycosides have also been given the green light for use in food products various countries around the world, including Argentina, Australia, Brazil, China, Columbia, France, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Paraguay, Peru, Russia, Switzerland, Taiwan, Turkey, Ukraine and Uruguay.