Sounds to me more like: "Some people say it might have some side effects, and we really haven't had a chance to study the matter."
Rather than :"We have determined it is dangerous."
Everything has potential negative effects if consumed in sufficient quantities. I would not worry about it until they can come up with something a bit more specific, and done some trials. Honestly, sugar can have effects on blood sugar too, no one is talking about taking it out of food.
Good point. I can never tell with these things if its another case of the FDA being ran by special interests and large corporations or if there's actually something to be concerned about.
The FDA has sort of had a hard-on for stevia for a while -- can't sell it in the same section of the shop as other sweeteners, can't advertise it as a sweetener, etc. The folks who make stevia say that this is because the FDA is being pressured by sugar producers, but who can say?
I have passed the article on to a friend of mine who is an herbalist and pharmacy student, and will see what he has to add. He often is up on the ins and outs of this sort of thing.
The FDA has a way of playing to Big Money. Whatcha wanna bet that Stevia becomes perfectly safe once the big beverage makers figure out how to make money off it?
There is a single study I know of linking Stevia to lowered sperm counts, but...I am not really convinced that it's not smoke and mirrors.
As usual, the limited data is mixed. Also questions about what you're taking in terms of what extract, what impurities, which active ingredients, etc. Usual problems when trying to deal with a plant or plant extract.
In 1999, the EU banned it: Conclusion In the safety assessment of the specific stevioside preparation for which approval is sought, several questions of concern were raised by the Committee regarding the specifications of the extracts that had been tested, questionable chronic toxicity and carcinogenicity studies, and possible effects on the male reproductive system that could affect fertility. Furthermore, steviol, one metabolite of stevioside, that is produced by the human microflora is genotoxic and induces developmental toxicity. The Committee is not satisfied with the submitted documentation and has concern about possible toxicity. Areas that need further studies are stated in the above opinion. The Committee reiterates its earlier opinion that the substance is not acceptable as a sweetener on the presently available data. — Opinion on STEVIOSIDE AS A SWEETENER
I use Stevia, made by Nu Naturals. I don't use a lot of it, only in my coffee at home and then use Splenda here at work. I remember when splenda was on the chopping block, too.
Food additives are more regulated than supplements of which Stevia is considered. From what I've been able to glean from the FDA website - they have not been presented with sufficient scientific studies to make Stevia a food additive. Therefore any company using it in their products is not in compliance. I found this website http://www.fda.gov/ora/fiars/ora_import_ia4506.html Which discusses seizure of any product from outside the US that contains Stevia. It was updated last week to include testing methodology for identification. If they are not allowing products containing Stevia into the US then they are not going to allow US manufacturers to use it either.
I believe Stevia is safe to use in moderation just like a lot of things are. Until the companies that want to use it wholesale in their products pony up with more data the FDA is going to continue to nix it as a food additive. Unfortunately the research and regulation will probably cost money and that will be passed along to the consumer.
MSG was originally accepted as being safe in 1959. The FDA and the industry has come a long way since then with way better methods for testing and evaluating.
I agree - someone should re-evaluate it but it probably won't happen - heck that lobby is part of the whole sugar lobby.
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branchandroot
no subject
Date: 2007-09-18 04:55 pm (UTC)Rather than :"We have determined it is dangerous."
Everything has potential negative effects if consumed in sufficient quantities. I would not worry about it until they can come up with something a bit more specific, and done some trials. Honestly, sugar can have effects on blood sugar too, no one is talking about taking it out of food.
no subject
Date: 2007-09-18 04:57 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-09-18 05:04 pm (UTC)I have passed the article on to a friend of mine who is an herbalist and pharmacy student, and will see what he has to add. He often is up on the ins and outs of this sort of thing.
no subject
Date: 2007-09-18 05:06 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-09-18 05:07 pm (UTC)There is a single study I know of linking Stevia to lowered sperm counts, but...I am not really convinced that it's not smoke and mirrors.
no subject
Date: 2007-09-18 05:10 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-09-18 05:14 pm (UTC)In 1999, the EU banned it:
Conclusion
In the safety assessment of the specific stevioside preparation for which approval is sought, several questions of concern were raised by the Committee regarding the specifications of the extracts that had been tested, questionable chronic toxicity and carcinogenicity studies, and possible effects on the male reproductive system that could affect fertility. Furthermore, steviol, one metabolite of stevioside, that is produced by the human microflora is genotoxic and induces developmental toxicity. The Committee is not satisfied with the submitted documentation and has concern about possible toxicity. Areas that need further studies are stated in the above opinion. The Committee reiterates its earlier opinion that the substance is not acceptable as a sweetener on the presently available data.
— Opinion on STEVIOSIDE AS A SWEETENER
Wikipedia has a mildly slanted article on it.
no subject
Date: 2007-09-18 05:16 pm (UTC)The slant was hard to avoid, wasn't it? :)
no subject
Date: 2007-09-18 09:45 pm (UTC)And cuz it's on da Intarw3b it just must be tr00!
;-)
I mean geeze--talk about mildly slanted... lol!
no subject
Date: 2007-09-18 05:20 pm (UTC)I use Stevia, made by Nu Naturals. I don't use a lot of it, only in my coffee at home and then use Splenda here at work.
I remember when splenda was on the chopping block, too.
Let me know what else you find...
no subject
Date: 2007-09-18 06:11 pm (UTC)I use lemon-flavored stevia to spruce up a bottle of water and regular in coffee, teas and the like.
no subject
Date: 2007-09-18 09:41 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-09-19 12:51 am (UTC)Thanks for the idea, G. :)
no subject
Date: 2007-09-18 07:25 pm (UTC)Therefore any company using it in their products is not in compliance.
I found this website http://www.fda.gov/ora/fiars/ora_import_ia4506.html
Which discusses seizure of any product from outside the US that contains Stevia. It was updated last week to include testing methodology for identification. If they are not allowing products containing Stevia into the US then they are not going to allow US manufacturers to use it either.
I believe Stevia is safe to use in moderation just like a lot of things are. Until the companies that want to use it wholesale in their products pony up with more data the FDA is going to continue to nix it as a food additive. Unfortunately the research and regulation will probably cost money and that will be passed along to the consumer.
no subject
Date: 2007-09-18 07:27 pm (UTC)Ugh.
no subject
Date: 2007-09-18 07:41 pm (UTC)I agree - someone should re-evaluate it but it probably won't happen - heck that lobby is part of the whole sugar lobby.
More info
Date: 2007-09-18 07:55 pm (UTC)Info can be found here
http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/supplmnt.html
To move it into the additive catagory requires the info found here.
http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~lrd/foodaddi.html
The companies are making money on it as a supplement - to do what is required to make it an additive requires a whole lot more.
no subject
Date: 2007-09-19 02:21 am (UTC)see http://www.herbal-supplements-guide.com/stevia-side-effects.html
&
http://www.cookingwithstevia.com/stevia_faq.html