Why was stevia outlawed as an additive in the US?
Just to show you how messed up drug laws are in the US, it's illegal to sell Stevia rebaudiana as a food, or food additive; but it's perfectly legal to do so, if it's labeled as as dietary supplement, or as a plant coloring. In other words, you can sell it, with a few extra labeling requirements, you just can't ADD it to anything. The FDA outlawed S. rebaudiana in the early 1990's after a number of (anonymous) complaints about it's potential as a carcinogen. These fears have since been shown to be unfounded in several well controlled studies. Nevertheless, the FDA has turned down a number of industry requests (notably by Coca-Cola,) to use S. rebaudiana as a low calorie sugar substitute. Stevia sp. has been used for centuries in South America, and commercially in Japan for nearly 30 years, with no substantial reports of ill effects. (My personal opinion, is that the FDA banned it, for no other reason, than under the table lobbying and pressure from the artificial sweetener businessEven compared to sugar, S. rebaudiana is pretty cheap.) WOMBAT
You can buy it as an adjunct or dietary supplement or additive. I understand that because it has some mutagenic properties the USDA will not clear it as an additive. I think it is for some liver function that the USDA is concerned. I use it because it is a sweetener that actually lowers blood glucose. As a diabetic that loves tea stevia is a great benefit. I grow six plants so I can share with friends. As I have been using it for six or seven years I am beginning to tire of its taste. At first I really liked the long sweet flavor that lingered so well.
