TreeHugger takes a look at all the hoopla surrounding diet sweeteners and their “all-natural” claims. Take a look:
Stevia is banned in Europe. The USA has not approved stevia as a food additive. Is it a conspiracy of the artificial sweetener industry to suppress an all-natural competitor? Or is there insufficient evidence of the safety of Stevia for human consumption in the face of findings of carcinogenic effects, reduction of fertility and mutagenic effects of the chemicals created when Stevia is digested?
Rumors of conspiracy were prompted by an anonymous challenge to opening the US market to stevia, which under the rules of the FDA could have been been given Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) status as an existing product with a history of human consumption. Without FDA approval or GRAS status, Zevia and stevia must be marketed under the less-regulated category of "dietary supplement".
While the food agencies tend to focus on risks, there may be benefits too. Preliminary study results suggest that stevia may have positive effects beyond weight control, including vasodilation (an effect that can be therapeutic for high blood pressure) and improved regulation of blood glucose levels (possibly beneficial in relation to diabetes).
A few years ago, when Dr. Fuhrman wrote
Eat to Live, he mentioned Stevia. Here’s what he said:
Many health gurus recommend substituting Stevia in place of artificial sweeteners. Stevia is natural and its use is permitted in Japan and other countries. Despite its widespread use, there is a surprising lack of human clinical trials evaluating its safety. Unlike with saccharin, no evidence has been reported that stevioside and its metabolites are carcinogenic. However, animal reports of nephrotoxicity do exist, which suggest that Stevia is likely safer than the other sweeteners, but not entirely without risk.1 The extent of risk is unknown at this time.
The claim “all-natural” makes me nervous. People right away assume it’s safe. Aren’t snake venom, poison ivy, and salmonella, also all-natural!
1. Toskulkao, C., et al. 1997. Acute toxicity of stevioside, a natural sweetener, and its metabolite, steviol, in several animal species, Drug Chem. Toxicol. 20 (31): 31-44.
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