European Soft Drinks Industry welcomes approval of Steviol Glycosides

European Soft Drinks Industry welcomes approval of Steviol Glycosides for in use in EU

Provides a greater repertoire in delivering sweetness and will drive new product innovation

14 November 2011; UNESDA, representing the non-alcoholic beverages industry in Europe, welcomes the approval of the sweetener steviol glycosides for use in the European Union. 

Steviol glycosides, commonly known as stevia, provide the industry with a wider repertoire for delivering sweetness and offering additional variety and choice in hydration.  Stevia is extracted and purified from leaves of the stevia rebaudiana plant, and provides sweetness without calories. 

“Stevia’s approval for use in the EU will allow the beverages sector to innovate to deliver new, great-tasting products,” said Alain Beaumont, UNESDA secretary general.  “With this additional option for delivering sweetness we expect to see even further growth in the low- and mid-calorie varieties allowing consumers to manage their energy intake as part of a balanced and healthy diet.”

Stevia is already permitted in many countries including the US, Canada, France, Mexico, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, China, Russia, Australia, Argentina, New Zealand, Columbia, Peru, Paraguay, Uruguay, Brazil, Switzerland and Malaysia. 

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Key facts

• Steviol glycosides are extracted from the leaves of the Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni plant, which is native to Paraguay and a part of the sunflower (Asteraceae) family which also includes chrysanthemums and dahlias.
• Steviol glycosides, commonly known as stevia, is the name of the powder or liquid that is extracted from the plant.
• Water extraction is used to release the sweetness in the stevia plant and this is followed by purification of the extract obtained.
• Stevia extracts are usually 200-300 times sweeter than sugar, but contain virtually no calories.
• More than 25 years of scientific research have established the safety of stevia extract.
• Stevia has been approved as safe by leading safety and regulatory agencies around the world including the joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA), the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA), ANSES of France and Food Standards Australia New Zealand. 
• Both EFSA and JECFA have established an Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI)* for steviol equivalents of 4mg/kg bw/day. There are currently more than20 different beverage products containing stevia on the market worldwide.

* The Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI) is defined as an estimate of the amount of a food additive, expressed on a bodyweight basis that can be ingested on a daily basis over a lifetime without causing any harmful effects.