Current situation

Meaning of Stevia in Japan and Brazil

Since nearly 20 years use millions of consumers in Japan and Brazil, where Stevia is authorized as food additive, Stevia excerpts as safe, natural, calorie-free Japan is the largest consumer of Stevia sheets and - excerpts in the world. There it is used, around everything, of the Sojasosse over Essiggurken, to the Konfektionsartikeln and the alcohol-free beverages for sweet. Even multinational companies such as Coca-Cola use Stevia to the sweet one of food (as replacement for e.g. Saccharin) for the sales in Japan, in Brazil and in other countries.

The sweet material manufacturer and other lobbyists resisted

The attempt of a European Stevia farmer to receive in the European Union a permission for Stevia as food additive failed, since this over the safety could not show a proof, what many lengthy and therefore expensive test would have made necessary.

In the USA the company Monsanto, Hersteller of the Aspartam, 1984 a scientific investigation, financed which opened doubts about the health safety of Stevia. Afterwards a dismantling product of the Steviosids (Steviol) should mutagen to work. Although the contentwise value of this scientific investigation is very disputed, on its basis of this study 1991 by the FDA (Food and Drug administration) Steviaprodukte and also their import was forbidden into the United States. This brought in Monsanto the reproach of purposeful influencing control, approximately by the offer of better paid places to several members of the FDA. Since 1995 this prohibition is nevertheless so far waived that Stevia products may be used as food additions, not however generally as food additives by the employment of the combination of the American natural product industry.

Situation in the European Union

In the European Union the situation is another. Here Stevia was subordinated as the first plant of the Novel Food regulation. The scientific food committee of the European Union commission, which over the health safety of Stevia should find, relied in its refusal of a permission on the same scientific work, which led at short notice in the USA to a sales stop. In June 1999 the committee came in a study to the conclusion that "„the substance on basis of the presently/immediately available data "“not when is acceptable.

However Stevia in Switzerland, which does not belong to the European Union, are sold in the spring and summer months on many weekly markets.

Nevertheless one receives Stevia also in the European Union, e.g. defines as bath salts.

Recommendation of the FAO/WHO

Contrary to the above mentioned expert's assessments the common expert commission came for food additives of the world health and world nourishing organization (JECFA) on the basis of further studies in June 2004 to the conclusion, Steviosid (up to a maximum income quantity of 2 mg per day and kg body weight) for the human use than designating without heistation.

Related links

• Information about the Stevia research at the University of high home
• Link collection about Stevia with medinfo.de
• Free Stevia - portal
• Statement of the Scientific Committee on Food (SCF) of the European Union commission for the use of Steviosiden as
• Statement of the SCF of the European Union commission for the use of Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni plants and sheets
• World Health Organization: Evaluation OF certain food additive (pdf)
• World Health Organization: Safety evaluation OF certain food additive (pdf)

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