Seguridad de Stevia - Stevia Safety

I found this article - however in spanish - explaining potential risks
of extracts of Stevia Rebaudiana Bertoni. Think you might be
interested reading it also:
http://www.leetu.com/2010/05/15/efec...ios-de-stevia/

Encontré este artículo "Seguridad de Stevia - Efectos Secundarios de
Stevia" cuando busqué información sobre Stevia y sus potenciales
efectos secundarios. Me parece muy interesante para las personas que
piensan utilizar este edulcorante en el futuro o ya están utilizándolo.

In article
,
Bolaleman wrote:

I found this article - however in spanish - explaining potential risks
of extracts of Stevia Rebaudiana Bertoni. Think you might be
interested reading it also:
http://www.leetu.com/2010/05/15/efec...ios-de-stevia/

Encontré este artículo "Seguridad de Stevia - Efectos Secundarios de
Stevia" cuando busqué información sobre Stevia y sus potenciales
efectos secundarios. Me parece muy interesante para las personas que
piensan utilizar este edulcorante en el futuro o ya están utilizándolo.

Spanish to English translation
Stevia Side Effects

Want your juice with or without Stevia? That was the question of a girl
in the cafe of a sauna in Cochabamba, where I relaxed the weekend and
was surprised when I said "no thanks." What we know about this natural
sweetener is now also produced in Bolivia? Reading the labels on the
bottles with a white powder called Stevia in supermarkets, the common
sugar substitute is a wonder that has a variety of positive properties,
including increased glucose tolerance, reduced hypertension, cure of
osteoporosis, caries prevention, natural source of antioxidants, etc.

What is Stevia?

The plant Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni, commonly called Stevia was first
mentioned by the Spanish physician and botanist Pedro Jaime Esteve
(1500-1556) who found in the north-east of the territory now called
Paraguay.

Guarani Indians of this area as in southern Brazil using "ka'a he'ê"
("sweet leaf"), named in Guaraní, hundreds of years as a sweetener in
yerba mate, and several tribes reported the use of this plant in the
control of fertility of women, applying concentrated Stevia infusions
for prolonged periods.

It is precisely this property contraceptive is discussed from the 70s
until today in the scientific literature. The question is simple: Who
wants to consume a sweetener that suddenly makes you barren?

Stevia leaf contains a complex mixture of substances which have an
intensely sweet taste, about 30-45 times sweeter than sucrose, refined
sugar. To date, was isolated ten different chemical compounds
responsible for the sweet taste of the plant: stevioside, rebaudioside
A, B, C, D, E and F, sweets, Rubus and steviolbiosida. The highest
concentration of the effect comes from Stevia Sweet and rebaudioside A.
The commercial product is an extract from the leaves of Stevia is
250-300 times sweeter than refined sugar and only has about 0.2 calories
per gram.

The result of the chemical extraction of the plant is a product
containing a minimum of 90-95% of stevia and / or rebaudioside A. Both
sweet glycosides are chemically diterpenic glycosides, substances
composed of two molecules of different types of sugar and a molecule
called steviol. This serves as a "backbone" and is structurally similar
to plant hormones and acid giberalina caurenóico (or caureno). Several
studies show that partially glycosides are metabolized in the body
releasing the sugar molecules and steviol.

Is It Safe to Use Stevia instead of sugar?

It is precisely this compound steviol, the backbone of Stevia
sweeteners, which for many years called attention to toxicologists,
because this substance demonstrated in studies with bacteria and cells,
clear evidence of genotoxicity (for example, is capable of changing the
genetic information). However, more recent studies with mice, rats and
hamsters, indicated that it requires very high concentrations of steviol
to initiate damage to DNA, the molecule of life containing all the
genetic information.

There are a variety of publications toxicological potential adverse
effects of stevia extract and the results are not very consistent. In
particular, the effect on fertility Stevia was the subject of
controversy in the scientific world. A study published in 1968 by
Professor Joseph Kuc Purdue University in Indiana, USA, initiated the
discussion. Prof. Kuc detected a contraceptive effect by reducing the
fertility of up to 79% of female rats when fed with high amounts of
Stevia. While the outcome of this study was not confirmed by other
scientific groups, in a study published in 1999 by Prof. Melis of the
University of São Paulo confirmed the results of Kuc group and a
decrease of sperm in male rats after application of high doses of Stevia
glycosides. To reassure users of Stevia, in any study could confirm the
carcinogenic or mutagenic effect on 'normal' application as a sweetener.

Although adverse effects of Stevia never really been tested in humans,
both the authorities in the United States, Canada and the European Union
considered that Stevia extracts are not clear in the application as a
tabletop sweetener, with the argument of the lack of long-term
toxicological studies. Authorities in other countries like Japan, China
and several Latin American countries have a different view and accepted
the use of extracts of Stevia as a natural sweetener. In Japan, Stevia
sweeteners are already available commercially since 1971 and there were
no reported health problems associated with this sweetener.

In the U.S., the Food and Drug Administration on (FDA) approved the use
of extracts of Stevia as an ingredient in only a "nutritional
supplement" but not as a tabletop sweetener. Only the glycoside
Rebaudioside A in its pure form is considered as Generally Recognized as
Safe Substances (GRAS in English) since December 2008. By contrast,
stevia, the other lead compound Stevia extract, was not recognized as
GRAS by the FDA.

Both in Canada and the European Union (EU), the use of Stevia as a
tabletop sweetener was rejected on the grounds that there was
insufficient evidence to prove its safety. But now there is light at the
end of the tunnel. A new view of the European Food Safety Authority
(EFSA) that monitors sweeteners and their use, to remove trade products
deemed hazardous to health. This institution published in April this
year a document with an assessment of the toxicological information
available to date. The result is that Stevia and Stevia extracts are
considered safe when used as a tabletop sweetener - at least under
certain conditions.

EFSA recommends a maximum daily dose of 4 mg per kilogram of body
weight, to be sure, the same maximum dose recommended by the World
Health Organization according to a document published in 2008. In common
words, an adult weighing 70 kg can consume 280 mg of an extract of
Stevia with no risk to your health. Whereas Stevia extract is 250 times
sweeter than table sugar, an adult can replace daily 70 grams of sugar
per Stevia, equivalent to about 4-5 tablespoons or about 20 teaspoons of
sugar. Because children have a lower body weight, the dose should be
reduced in proportion to their weight.

After the decision of the EFSA, which takes to the success of Stevia in
the European market is only the final decision of the European
Commission. For fans of Stevia is certain that being critical is never
misplaced, because "natural" does not necessarily mean risk free. A good
example is cocaine, extracted from the coca leaf. This drug is known is
a 100% natural but with serious consequences in case of a non-controlled
consumption.

Alle Ding 'sind Gift, und nichts ohn' Gift; allein macht die Dose, daß
ein Ding kein Gift ist ("All things are poison and nothing is without
poison, only the dose makes a thing not a poison") Paracelsus (
1493-1541)

Article submitted by: J. Oswald Eppers

Eppers Oswald is a chemist with extensive experience in assessing
impacts
of chemicals to the environment and humans.
-----

I use my Stevia in plant form, just as Evo Morales recommends coca in
leaf form.

Widely used as a sweetener
€ Japan (1970)[19]
Available as a food additive (sweetener)
€ Australia, and New Zealand (October 2008)[20] ‹ All steviol
glycoside extracts
€ Brazil (1986)[19] ‹ Stevioside extract
€ France ‹ Approved 97% or greater purity rebaudioside A for a
2-year test starting September 2009[21][22][19]
€ Mexico (2009)[19] ‹ Mixed steviol glycoside extract, not separate
extracts
Available as a dietary supplement
€ Canada
Available as either a food additive or dietary supplement
€ Switzerland
€ Mixed steviol glycoside extracts with greater than 95% purity
available as a food additive (2008)[23]
€ High purity rebaudioside A as a food additive (2009)[19]
€ United States
€ Stevia leaf and extracts are available as dietary supplements
(1995)
€ Rebaudioside A is available (December 2008) as a food additive
(sweetener).[24] It is available under multiple trade names including:
Only Sweet, PureVia, Reb-A, Rebiana, Sweet Leaf, and Truvia

Availability notes
€ In the United States, rebaudioside A is generally recognized as
safe (GRAS) as of December 2008.[24] The leaves and other extracts are
available as dietary supplements.
€ In Australia and New Zealand, prior to their October 2008 approval
of all steviol glycoside extracts, stevia leaves could be sold as
food.[27]
€ The European Food Safety Authority is conducting a safety review
and is expected to permit stevia extract to be used in the EU member
states in 2010.[28]
€ A report was issued from this review, on March 10, 2010,
indicating that steviol glycosides are safe up to an Acceptable Daily
Intake (ADI) of 4*mg/kg*body*weight/day, but that those levels are
likely to be exceeded at the proposed maximum use levels in both adults
and children.[29]
[edit]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stevia

Don't know what the purpose of the article is, but most agree that
Stevia is safe.
--
- Billy
"Fascism should more properly be called corporatism because it is the
merger of state and corporate power." - Benito Mussolini.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Arn3lF5XSUg
http://www.thirdworldtraveler.com/Zinn/HZinn_page.html

On May 21, 7:11Â*pm, Billy wrote:
In article
,

Â*Bolaleman wrote:
I found this article - however in spanish - explaining potential risks
of extracts of Stevia Rebaudiana Bertoni. Think you might be
interested reading it also:
http://www.leetu.com/2010/05/15/efec...ios-de-stevia/

Encontré este artÃ*culo "Seguridad de Stevia - Efectos Secundarios de
Stevia" cuando busqué información sobre Stevia y sus potenciales
efectos secundarios. Me parece muy interesante para las personas que
piensan utilizar este edulcorante en el futuro o ya están utilizándolo.

Spanish to English translation
Stevia Side Effects

Want your juice with or without Stevia? That was the question of a girl
in the cafe of a sauna in Cochabamba, where I relaxed the weekend and
was surprised when I said "no thanks." What we know about this natural
sweetener is now also produced in Bolivia? Reading the labels on the
bottles with a white powder called Stevia in supermarkets, the common
sugar substitute is a wonder that has a variety of positive properties,
including increased glucose tolerance, reduced hypertension, cure of
osteoporosis, caries prevention, natural source of antioxidants, etc.

What is Stevia?

The plant Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni, commonly called Stevia was first
mentioned by the Spanish physician and botanist Pedro Jaime Esteve
(1500-1556) who found in the north-east of the territory now called
Paraguay.

Guarani Indians of this area as in southern Brazil using "ka'a he'ê"
("sweet leaf"), named in GuaranÃ*, hundreds of years as a sweetener in
yerba mate, and several tribes reported the use of this plant in the
control of fertility of women, applying concentrated Stevia infusions
for prolonged periods.

It is precisely this property contraceptive is discussed from the 70s
until today in the scientific literature. The question is simple: Who
wants to consume a sweetener that suddenly makes you barren?

Stevia leaf contains a complex mixture of substances which have an
intensely sweet taste, about 30-45 times sweeter than sucrose, refined
sugar. To date, was isolated ten different chemical compounds
responsible for the sweet taste of the plant: stevioside, rebaudioside
A, B, C, D, E and F, sweets, Rubus and steviolbiosida. The highest
concentration of the effect comes from Stevia Sweet and rebaudioside A.
The commercial product is an extract from the leaves of Stevia is
250-300 times sweeter than refined sugar and only has about 0.2 calories
per gram.

The result of the chemical extraction of the plant is a product
containing a minimum of 90-95% of stevia and / or rebaudioside A. Both
sweet glycosides are chemically diterpenic glycosides, substances
composed of two molecules of different types of sugar and a molecule
called steviol. This serves as a "backbone" and is structurally similar
to plant hormones and acid giberalina caurenóico (or caureno). Several
studies show that partially glycosides are metabolized in the body
releasing the sugar molecules and steviol.

Is It Safe to Use Stevia instead of sugar?

It is precisely this compound steviol, the backbone of Stevia
sweeteners, which for many years called attention to toxicologists,
because this substance demonstrated in studies with bacteria and cells,
clear evidence of genotoxicity (for example, is capable of changing the
genetic information). However, more recent studies with mice, rats and
hamsters, indicated that it requires very high concentrations of steviol
to initiate damage to DNA, the molecule of life containing all the
genetic information.

There are a variety of publications toxicological potential adverse
effects of stevia extract and the results are not very consistent. In
particular, the effect on fertility Stevia was the subject of
controversy in the scientific world. A study published in 1968 by
Professor Joseph Kuc Purdue University in Indiana, USA, initiated the
discussion. Prof. Kuc detected a contraceptive effect by reducing the
fertility of up to 79% of female rats when fed with high amounts of
Stevia. While the outcome of this study was not confirmed by other
scientific groups, in a study published in 1999 by Prof. Melis of the
University of São Paulo confirmed the results of Kuc group and a
decrease of sperm in male rats after application of high doses of Stevia
glycosides. To reassure users of Stevia, in any study could confirm the
carcinogenic or mutagenic effect on 'normal' application as a sweetener.

Although adverse effects of Stevia never really been tested in humans,
both the authorities in the United States, Canada and the European Union
considered that Stevia extracts are not clear in the application as a
tabletop sweetener, with the argument of the lack of long-term
toxicological studies. Authorities in other countries like Japan, China
and several Latin American countries have a different view and accepted
the use of extracts of Stevia as a natural sweetener. In Japan, Stevia
sweeteners are already available commercially since 1971 and there were
no reported health problems associated with this sweetener.

In the U.S., the Food and Drug Administration on (FDA) approved the use
of extracts of Stevia as an ingredient in only a "nutritional
supplement" but not as a tabletop sweetener. Only the glycoside
Rebaudioside A in its pure form is considered as Generally Recognized as
Safe Substances (GRAS in English) since December 2008. By contrast,
stevia, the other lead compound Stevia extract, was not recognized as
GRAS by the FDA.

Both in Canada and the European Union (EU), the use of Stevia as a
tabletop sweetener was rejected on the grounds that there was
insufficient evidence to prove its safety. But now there is light at the
end of the tunnel. A new view of the European Food Safety Authority
(EFSA) that monitors sweeteners and their use, to remove trade products
deemed hazardous to health. This institution published in April this
year a document with an assessment of the toxicological information
available to date. The result is that Stevia and Stevia extracts are
considered safe when used as a tabletop sweetener - at least under
certain conditions.

EFSA recommends a maximum daily dose of 4 mg per kilogram of body
weight, to be sure, the same maximum dose recommended by the World
Health Organization according to a document published in 2008. In common
words, an adult weighing 70 kg can consume 280 mg of an extract of
Stevia with no risk to your health. Whereas Stevia extract is 250 times
sweeter than table sugar, an adult can replace daily 70 grams of sugar
per Stevia, equivalent to about 4-5 tablespoons or about 20 teaspoons of
sugar. Because children have a lower body weight, the dose should be
reduced in proportion to their weight.

After the decision of the EFSA, which takes to the success of Stevia in
the European market is only the final decision of the European
Commission. For fans of Stevia is certain that being critical is never
misplaced, because "natural" does not necessarily mean risk free. A good
example is cocaine, extracted from the coca leaf. This drug is known is
a 100% natural but with serious consequences in case of a non-controlled
consumption.

Alle Ding 'sind Gift, und nichts ohn' Gift; allein macht die Dose, daß
ein Ding kein Gift ist ("All things are poison and nothing is without
poison, only the dose makes a thing not a poison") Paracelsus (
1493-1541)

Article submitted by: J. Oswald Eppers

Eppers Oswald is a chemist with extensive experience in assessing
impacts
of chemicals to the environment and humans.
-----

I use my Stevia in plant form, just as Evo Morales recommends coca in
leaf form.

Widely used as a sweetener
Â* Â*€ Â*Japan (1970)[19]
Available as a food additive (sweetener)
Â* Â*€ Â*Australia, and New Zealand (October 2008)[20] ‹ All steviol
glycoside extracts
Â* Â*€ Â*Brazil (1986)[19] ‹ Stevioside extract
Â* Â*€ Â*France ‹ Approved 97% or greater purity rebaudioside A for a
2-year test starting September 2009[21][22][19]
Â* Â*€ Â*Mexico (2009)[19] ‹ Mixed steviol glycoside extract, not separate
extracts
Available as a dietary supplement
Â* Â*€ Â*Canada
Available as either a food additive or dietary supplement
Â* Â*€ Â*Switzerland
Â* Â*€ Â*Mixed steviol glycoside extracts with greater than 95% purity
available as a food additive (2008)[23]
Â* Â*€ Â*High purity rebaudioside A as a food additive (2009)[19]
Â* Â*€ Â*United States
Â* Â*€ Â*Stevia leaf and extracts are available as dietary supplements
(1995)
Â* Â*€ Â*Rebaudioside A is available (December 2008) as a food additive
(sweetener).[24] It is available under multiple trade names including:
Only Sweet, PureVia, Reb-A, Rebiana, Sweet Leaf, and Truvia

Availability notes
Â* Â*€ Â*In the United States, rebaudioside A is generally recognized as
safe (GRAS) as of December 2008.[24] The leaves and other extracts are
available as dietary supplements.
Â* Â*€ Â*In Australia and New Zealand, prior to their October 2008 approval
of all steviol glycoside extracts, stevia leaves could be sold as
food.[27]
Â* Â*€ Â*The European Food Safety Authority is conducting a safety review
and is expected to permit stevia extract to be used in the EU member
states in 2010.[28]
Â* Â*€ Â*A report was issued from this review, on March 10, 2010,
indicating that steviol glycosides are safe up to an Acceptable Daily
Intake (ADI) of 4Â*mg/kgÂ*bodyÂ*weight/day, but that those levels are
likely to be exceeded at the proposed maximum use levels in both adults
and children.[29]
[edit]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stevia

Don't know what the purpose of the article is, but most agree that
Stevia is safe.
--
- Billy
"Fascism should more properly be called corporatism because it is the
merger of state and corporate power." - Benito Mussolini.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Arn3l...Zinn_page.html

The purpose is to resume the available information on the safety of
stevia which proves that stevia is safe to use as a table top
sweetener when not used in too large quantities. Furthermore, many of
the claimed beneficial effects like cure of osteoporosis, caries
prevention, reduction of tobacco and alcohol addiction, cardiovascular
effects, etc. you can find on the labels of commercial Stevia extracts
sales have not been confirmed at all in toxicological studies and are
just sales pitches.

Here are some of the latest scientific publications on Stevia:
1. European Food Safety Authority, 2010. Scientific Opinion on the
safety of steviol glycosides for
the proposed uses as a food additive. EFSA Journal 2010;8(4):1537.
2. JECFA (Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives), 2009.
Safety evaluation of
certain food additives. Prepared by the 69th meeting of the Joint FAO/
WHO Expert Committee on
Food Additives. WHO Food Additives Series, No. 66, 183-220.
3. Charles River Laboratoires, 2008. Orla (stomach tube) developmental
toxicity study of CPO 2196
in rabbits. Study No EHE00002. Charles river Laboratories, Horsham,
PA.
4. Curry L, Roberts A and Brown N, 2008. Rebaudioside A: Two-
generation reproductive toxicity
study in rats. Food and Chemical Toxicology, 46 (7), S21-S30.
5. Barriocanal LA, Palacios M, Benitez G, Benitez S, Jimenez JT,
Jimenez N, Rojas V., 2008.
Apparent lack of pharmacological effect of steviol glycosides used as
sweeteners in humans. A
pilot study of repeated exposures in some normotensive and hypotensive
individuals and in Type
1 and Type 2 diabetics. Regul Toxicol Pharmacol. 2008 Jun;51(1):37-41.
Epub 2008 Mar 5.
6. FDA (Food and Drug Administration), 2008. Center for Food Safety
and Applied Nutrition
(CFSAN)/Office of Food Additive Safety, December 17, 2008. Agency
Response Letter GRAS
Notice No. GRN 000253.
7. JECFA (Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives), 2008.
Compendium of Food
Additive Specifications. Monograph 5. Steviol glycosides. Disponible
en:
http://www.fao.org/ag/agn/jecfa-addi...ls.html?id=898
8. Chan P, Tomlinson B, Chen YJ, Liu JC, Hsieh MH, Cheng JT, 2000. A
double-blind placebocontrolled
study of the effectiveness and tolerability of oral stevioside in
human hypertension. Br J
Clin Pharmacol. 2000 Sep;50(3):215-20.
9. Evaluation of Certain Food Additives. WHO Food Additives Series
42:119-143, Geneva,1999.
10. Magnuson BA, Burdock GA, Doull J, Kroes RM, Marsh GM, Pariza MW,
Spencer PS, Waddell
WJ, Walker R, Williams GM, 2007. Aspartame: a safety evaluation based
on current use levels,
regulations, and toxicological and epidemiological studies. Crit Rev
Toxicol. 2007; 37(8):629-727
[Critical reviews in toxicology].

In article
,
Bolaleman wrote:

On May 21, 7:11Â*pm, Billy wrote:
In article
,

Â*Bolaleman wrote:
I found this article - however in spanish - explaining potential risks
of extracts of Stevia Rebaudiana Bertoni. Think you might be
interested reading it also:
http://www.leetu.com/2010/05/15/efec...ios-de-stevia/

Encontré este artÃ*culo "Seguridad de Stevia - Efectos Secundarios de
Stevia" cuando busqué información sobre Stevia y sus potenciales
efectos secundarios. Me parece muy interesante para las personas que
piensan utilizar este edulcorante en el futuro o ya están utilizándolo.

Spanish to English translation
Stevia Side Effects

Want your juice with or without Stevia? That was the question of a girl
in the cafe of a sauna in Cochabamba, where I relaxed the weekend and
was surprised when I said "no thanks." What we know about this natural
sweetener is now also produced in Bolivia? Reading the labels on the
bottles with a white powder called Stevia in supermarkets, the common
sugar substitute is a wonder that has a variety of positive properties,
including increased glucose tolerance, reduced hypertension, cure of
osteoporosis, caries prevention, natural source of antioxidants, etc.

What is Stevia?

The plant Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni, commonly called Stevia was first
mentioned by the Spanish physician and botanist Pedro Jaime Esteve
(1500-1556) who found in the north-east of the territory now called
Paraguay.

Guarani Indians of this area as in southern Brazil using "ka'a he'ê"
("sweet leaf"), named in GuaranÃ*, hundreds of years as a sweetener in
yerba mate, and several tribes reported the use of this plant in the
control of fertility of women, applying concentrated Stevia infusions
for prolonged periods.

It is precisely this property contraceptive is discussed from the 70s
until today in the scientific literature. The question is simple: Who
wants to consume a sweetener that suddenly makes you barren?

Stevia leaf contains a complex mixture of substances which have an
intensely sweet taste, about 30-45 times sweeter than sucrose, refined
sugar. To date, was isolated ten different chemical compounds
responsible for the sweet taste of the plant: stevioside, rebaudioside
A, B, C, D, E and F, sweets, Rubus and steviolbiosida. The highest
concentration of the effect comes from Stevia Sweet and rebaudioside A.
The commercial product is an extract from the leaves of Stevia is
250-300 times sweeter than refined sugar and only has about 0.2 calories
per gram.

The result of the chemical extraction of the plant is a product
containing a minimum of 90-95% of stevia and / or rebaudioside A. Both
sweet glycosides are chemically diterpenic glycosides, substances
composed of two molecules of different types of sugar and a molecule
called steviol. This serves as a "backbone" and is structurally similar
to plant hormones and acid giberalina caurenóico (or caureno). Several
studies show that partially glycosides are metabolized in the body
releasing the sugar molecules and steviol.

Is It Safe to Use Stevia instead of sugar?

It is precisely this compound steviol, the backbone of Stevia
sweeteners, which for many years called attention to toxicologists,
because this substance demonstrated in studies with bacteria and cells,
clear evidence of genotoxicity (for example, is capable of changing the
genetic information). However, more recent studies with mice, rats and
hamsters, indicated that it requires very high concentrations of steviol
to initiate damage to DNA, the molecule of life containing all the
genetic information.

There are a variety of publications toxicological potential adverse
effects of stevia extract and the results are not very consistent. In
particular, the effect on fertility Stevia was the subject of
controversy in the scientific world. A study published in 1968 by
Professor Joseph Kuc Purdue University in Indiana, USA, initiated the
discussion. Prof. Kuc detected a contraceptive effect by reducing the
fertility of up to 79% of female rats when fed with high amounts of
Stevia. While the outcome of this study was not confirmed by other
scientific groups, in a study published in 1999 by Prof. Melis of the
University of São Paulo confirmed the results of Kuc group and a
decrease of sperm in male rats after application of high doses of Stevia
glycosides. To reassure users of Stevia, in any study could confirm the
carcinogenic or mutagenic effect on 'normal' application as a sweetener.

Although adverse effects of Stevia never really been tested in humans,
both the authorities in the United States, Canada and the European Union
considered that Stevia extracts are not clear in the application as a
tabletop sweetener, with the argument of the lack of long-term
toxicological studies. Authorities in other countries like Japan, China
and several Latin American countries have a different view and accepted
the use of extracts of Stevia as a natural sweetener. In Japan, Stevia
sweeteners are already available commercially since 1971 and there were
no reported health problems associated with this sweetener.

In the U.S., the Food and Drug Administration on (FDA) approved the use
of extracts of Stevia as an ingredient in only a "nutritional
supplement" but not as a tabletop sweetener. Only the glycoside
Rebaudioside A in its pure form is considered as Generally Recognized as
Safe Substances (GRAS in English) since December 2008. By contrast,
stevia, the other lead compound Stevia extract, was not recognized as
GRAS by the FDA.

Both in Canada and the European Union (EU), the use of Stevia as a
tabletop sweetener was rejected on the grounds that there was
insufficient evidence to prove its safety. But now there is light at the
end of the tunnel. A new view of the European Food Safety Authority
(EFSA) that monitors sweeteners and their use, to remove trade products
deemed hazardous to health. This institution published in April this
year a document with an assessment of the toxicological information
available to date. The result is that Stevia and Stevia extracts are
considered safe when used as a tabletop sweetener - at least under
certain conditions.

EFSA recommends a maximum daily dose of 4 mg per kilogram of body
weight, to be sure, the same maximum dose recommended by the World
Health Organization according to a document published in 2008. In common
words, an adult weighing 70 kg can consume 280 mg of an extract of
Stevia with no risk to your health. Whereas Stevia extract is 250 times
sweeter than table sugar, an adult can replace daily 70 grams of sugar
per Stevia, equivalent to about 4-5 tablespoons or about 20 teaspoons of
sugar. Because children have a lower body weight, the dose should be
reduced in proportion to their weight.

After the decision of the EFSA, which takes to the success of Stevia in
the European market is only the final decision of the European
Commission. For fans of Stevia is certain that being critical is never
misplaced, because "natural" does not necessarily mean risk free. A good
example is cocaine, extracted from the coca leaf. This drug is known is
a 100% natural but with serious consequences in case of a non-controlled
consumption.

Alle Ding 'sind Gift, und nichts ohn' Gift; allein macht die Dose, daß
ein Ding kein Gift ist ("All things are poison and nothing is without
poison, only the dose makes a thing not a poison") Paracelsus (
1493-1541)

Article submitted by: J. Oswald Eppers

Eppers Oswald is a chemist with extensive experience in assessing
impacts
of chemicals to the environment and humans.
-----

I use my Stevia in plant form, just as Evo Morales recommends coca in
leaf form.

Widely used as a sweetener
Â* Â*€ Â*Japan (1970)[19]
Available as a food additive (sweetener)
Â* Â*€ Â*Australia, and New Zealand (October 2008)[20] ‹ All steviol
glycoside extracts
Â* Â*€ Â*Brazil (1986)[19] ‹ Stevioside extract
Â* Â*€ Â*France ‹ Approved 97% or greater purity rebaudioside A for a
2-year test starting September 2009[21][22][19]
Â* Â*€ Â*Mexico (2009)[19] ‹ Mixed steviol glycoside extract, not separate
extracts
Available as a dietary supplement
Â* Â*€ Â*Canada
Available as either a food additive or dietary supplement
Â* Â*€ Â*Switzerland
Â* Â*€ Â*Mixed steviol glycoside extracts with greater than 95% purity
available as a food additive (2008)[23]
Â* Â*€ Â*High purity rebaudioside A as a food additive (2009)[19]
Â* Â*€ Â*United States
Â* Â*€ Â*Stevia leaf and extracts are available as dietary supplements
(1995)
Â* Â*€ Â*Rebaudioside A is available (December 2008) as a food additive
(sweetener).[24] It is available under multiple trade names including:
Only Sweet, PureVia, Reb-A, Rebiana, Sweet Leaf, and Truvia

Availability notes
Â* Â*€ Â*In the United States, rebaudioside A is generally recognized as
safe (GRAS) as of December 2008.[24] The leaves and other extracts are
available as dietary supplements.
Â* Â*€ Â*In Australia and New Zealand, prior to their October 2008 approval
of all steviol glycoside extracts, stevia leaves could be sold as
food.[27]
Â* Â*€ Â*The European Food Safety Authority is conducting a safety review
and is expected to permit stevia extract to be used in the EU member
states in 2010.[28]
Â* Â*€ Â*A report was issued from this review, on March 10, 2010,
indicating that steviol glycosides are safe up to an Acceptable Daily
Intake (ADI) of 4Â*mg/kgÂ*bodyÂ*weight/day, but that those levels are
likely to be exceeded at the proposed maximum use levels in both adults
and children.[29]
[edit]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stevia

Don't know what the purpose of the article is, but most agree that
Stevia is safe.
--
- Billy
"Fascism should more properly be called corporatism because it is the
merger of state and corporate power." - Benito
Mussolini.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Arn3l....thirdworldtra
veler.com/Zinn/HZinn_page.html

The purpose is to resume the available information on the safety of
stevia which proves that stevia is safe to use as a table top
sweetener when not used in too large quantities. Furthermore, many of
the claimed beneficial effects like cure of osteoporosis, caries
prevention, reduction of tobacco and alcohol addiction, cardiovascular
effects, etc. you can find on the labels of commercial Stevia extracts
sales have not been confirmed at all in toxicological studies and are
just sales pitches.

Here are some of the latest scientific publications on Stevia:
1. European Food Safety Authority, 2010. Scientific Opinion on the
safety of steviol glycosides for
the proposed uses as a food additive. EFSA Journal 2010;8(4):1537.
2. JECFA (Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives), 2009.
Safety evaluation of
certain food additives. Prepared by the 69th meeting of the Joint FAO/
WHO Expert Committee on
Food Additives. WHO Food Additives Series, No. 66, 183-220.
3. Charles River Laboratoires, 2008. Orla (stomach tube) developmental
toxicity study of CPO 2196
in rabbits. Study No EHE00002. Charles river Laboratories, Horsham,
PA.
4. Curry L, Roberts A and Brown N, 2008. Rebaudioside A: Two-
generation reproductive toxicity
study in rats. Food and Chemical Toxicology, 46 (7), S21-S30.
5. Barriocanal LA, Palacios M, Benitez G, Benitez S, Jimenez JT,
Jimenez N, Rojas V., 2008.
Apparent lack of pharmacological effect of steviol glycosides used as
sweeteners in humans. A
pilot study of repeated exposures in some normotensive and hypotensive
individuals and in Type
1 and Type 2 diabetics. Regul Toxicol Pharmacol. 2008 Jun;51(1):37-41.
Epub 2008 Mar 5.
6. FDA (Food and Drug Administration), 2008. Center for Food Safety
and Applied Nutrition
(CFSAN)/Office of Food Additive Safety, December 17, 2008. Agency
Response Letter GRAS
Notice No. GRN 000253.
7. JECFA (Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives), 2008.
Compendium of Food
Additive Specifications. Monograph 5. Steviol glycosides. Disponible
en:
http://www.fao.org/ag/agn/jecfa-addi...ls.html?id=898
8. Chan P, Tomlinson B, Chen YJ, Liu JC, Hsieh MH, Cheng JT, 2000. A
double-blind placebocontrolled
study of the effectiveness and tolerability of oral stevioside in
human hypertension. Br J
Clin Pharmacol. 2000 Sep;50(3):215-20.
9. Evaluation of Certain Food Additives. WHO Food Additives Series
42:119-143, Geneva,1999.
10. Magnuson BA, Burdock GA, Doull J, Kroes RM, Marsh GM, Pariza MW,
Spencer PS, Waddell
WJ, Walker R, Williams GM, 2007. Aspartame: a safety evaluation based
on current use levels,
regulations, and toxicological and epidemiological studies. Crit Rev
Toxicol. 2007; 37(8):629-727
[Critical reviews in toxicology].

Nothing on line? Nothing sinister about studies. Think I'll wait for the
movie. In any event, as I said, I use the plant, as people have been
doing for centuries, not it's extract.
--
- Billy
"Fascism should more properly be called corporatism because it is the
merger of state and corporate power." - Benito Mussolini.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Arn3lF5XSUg
http://www.thirdworldtraveler.com/Zinn/HZinn_page.html