Q. Is Stevia Safe?

By Sylvia Geiger, M.S., R.D., September/October 2009

A. This year, a few noncaloric sweeteners made from an extract of the Stevia rebaudiana plant arrived on grocery-store shelves. The stevia plant has a long history of use as a sweetener in South America. These new sweeteners—sold under brand names like Truvia and PureVia—include a highly purified extract of stevia called Rebaudioside A (a.k.a. Rebiana or Reb A). Reb A is 200 times sweeter than sugar and does not raise blood sugar.

Until December 2008, stevia and its derivatives could be sold in the U.S. only as dietary supplements, due to safety concerns. In the 1980s, animal studies linked stevia with adverse effects on fertility and reproductive development and possible genetic mutations. But in 2008, the makers of Truvia and PureVia submitted research to the Food and Drug Administration regarding Reb A’s safety and petitioned for it to become a generally regarded as safe (GRAS) ingredient.

The FDA affirmed the GRAS status, but did not change the previous ruling on stevia. “Reb A is different than whole-leaf stevia or [other] stevia extracts, which can only be sold as dietary supplements,” says FDA spokesperson Michael Herndon. “Nobody has provided the FDA with evidence that whole-leaf stevia is safe.”

The Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI), a consumer advocacy group, believes that the Reb A’s GRAS status was granted prematurely. “In the past, FDA protocol required repeated testing in two separate animal species prior to approval, but in this case it didn’t,” says David Schardt, nutrition expert with CSPI. “We are not warning people to avoid Reb A, but the public should be aware that the FDA did not follow all the usual safeguards.”

Bottom Line: The FDA considers Reb A a safe sugar substitute, but has not approved other forms of stevia. If you want to use stevia, we suggest sticking with Reb A (look for it on the ingredient label).

COMMENTS	POSTED
Stevia is terrible, almost worse than Equal and Splenda (which I actually prefer). None of these products taste 100x or whatever sweeter than sugar. If sugar was so bad, the Creatrix would never have put it here for our use. Diabetes only became an epidemic after all the processed foods and non-farm work revolutionized America into the Land of fat Slobs. Personally, I find Truvia awful and a waste of money. I use raw sugar, honey, dried fruit syrup, and other products - and I stay away from corn syrup products! — Anonymous	10/27/2010 - 9:45am
I've tried Stevia and I like it. It is supposedly a natural substitute for nutri-sweet and other chemical sugar substitutes that have been linked to health problems. — Anonymous	10/24/2010 - 6:56pm
I have used both stevia and truvia and neither impress me. I think I will just stick with sugar. — Anonymous	09/26/2010 - 9:51pm
Stevia is not an "artificial" sweetener. It is a plant and is therefore authentic and authentically sweet. Sugar doesn't own the sweet market. It is also not dangerous. The FDA's "fertility concerns" are questionable especially since in reality, the FDA is in bed with the food industry. That agency is not working for food safety. Stevia poses a risk to further profits to sugar substitute manufacturers as well as the sugar industry itself. There is far too much sugar in the American diet and the sugar industry is concerned that people may find a good alternative. I prefer SweetLeaf brand myself. The products this article touts are not pure Stevia but include sugar. For those of us who cannot eat sugar (and sugar substitutes are sugars), and that probably goes for everyone these days, Stevia is really the only choice. — Anonymous	09/24/2010 - 8:55am
Unless I have skipped something, I have yet to see anyone answer the question as to what is a safe amount of Stevia to consume on a daily basis. I put 1/2 tsp in my coffee/tea which translates to maybe 2 tsps a day. one TBS at absolute most. Does anybody know the safe amount????? I read yesterday that 4 mg. per pound of body weight is tbe recommended daily amount. This brings about another question how many mg's are in a teaspoon of stevia? A half teaspoon? That answer changes the question from an amount to weight. — Anonymous	08/19/2010 - 8:48am
If you are smart you will STAY AWAY from ARTIFICIAL SWEETENERS!!!!!!! THEY ARE POISON!!!!! — Anonymous	08/11/2010 - 1:49pm
There will always be people who are allergic to products or have some side effects. I does not mean everyone else cannot use it! People are allergic to medicines, make-up, household products, etc. If it makes you feel bad or you have side effects then find something else. A friend of mine has bad headaches when she drinks something with aspartame in it. It doesn't bother me. So I will continue to use my stevia! Instead of aspartame. — Anonymous	07/21/2010 - 12:22pm
Not EVERYTHING that's natural is "good for you." ;) Marajuana is natural, but it isn't good for you! That being said, I'd much rather have something that IS natural than something man made. All in all, most things in moderation...(yes, notice I didn't say ALL things in moderation...that would mean Marajuana too, but remember it's not good for you, unless of course you've been diagnosed with cancer and are taking it for medicinal purposes under the guidance and permission of your doctor.) I use Stevia...but mostly sugar. If you use a tablespoon of sugar per day (and I mean in your coffee or tea and not in anything else other than natural sugar which comes from complex carbohydrates like fruit and veggies, than you're going to be okay. Obviously, if you're diabetic, you want to stay away from sugar and watch the sugar (including the natural sugar) you take in per day. As far as the FDA, I could write a book about them and a million others but I won't. The only way to combat the "goings on" in any company of association is to eat properly. One then, doesn't have to worry about reading all of that ridiculous wording on packages when one is eating fruits and veggies and whole grains (such as Ezekial Bread). It takes the headache, worrying and fretting over whether or not this organization or that organization, like the FDA, is "out to get us." Go natural. It's the best bet...and yes, sugar is natural...in it's natural state...get some sugar cane...it's just as sweet as the plant Stevia is made from! — Anonymous	06/22/2010 - 9:12pm
Both Splenda and Aspartame give me migraines! These are toxic chemicals! — Anonymous	06/21/2010 - 11:25pm
If you read the FDA website, it says they are partially privately subsidized or funded. Who are those who would be interested in donating money to the government?...I presume lobbyists, food corporations, etc. -Tarantino — Anonymous	04/08/2010 - 10:32am