I heard that stevia can now be used in conventional foods (and not just dietary supplements). If true, are there special considerations I need to be aware of for labeling?
(July 2009) Only rebaudioside A (RebA), an isolated component of the stevia plant is allowed by FDA for use in conventional foods. In December 2008, FDA responded to notices from Whole Earth Sweetener Company LLC and Cargill Incorporated requesting GRAS status for rebaudioside A purified from Stevia rebaudiana (Bertoni) Bertoni. In both responses (1,2) FDA stated that the agency has no questions at this time regarding the conclusions that rebaudioside A is GRAS under the intended conditions of use. The ingredient statement needs to indicate the presence of the purified form “RebA” – “stevia” is not appropriate labeling nomenclature for this ingredient.
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