Post by erictalmant on Jun 23, 2009 7:31:21 GMT -5
Dear Friends,
It will be interesting to see how the FDA's tune about stevia changes once Coca-Cola has plunked down the hefty chunk of change required for "approval" of the all-natural sweetener. The soda giant is teaming up with another company to get a version of stevia called Rebiana approved for use in some of its products. But that hasn't happened yet, and in the meantime, the FDA continues to make life miserable for other manufacturers using stevia in their products.
The most recent company to come under attack is Hain Celestial Group, which produces Celestial Seasonings tea. One of the products in the company's "Zingers" line, a "tea to go" drink mix, uses stevia to sweeten the beverage. But since the company hasn't forked over any ransom payments -- I mean "approval fees" -- to the FDA, the agency has insisted that Hain Celestial discontinue referring to the product as beverage or drink mix and re-label it as a "dietary supplement."
The warning letter to Hain Celestial also stated that "data and information necessary to support the safe use [of stevia] have been lacking. In fact, literature reports have raised safety concerns about the use of stevia..."
It's nice that they're so concerned for our welfare, and protecting us from those "safety hazards." Except for the fact that they only bother doing it when it's convenient for them.
We both know that there ARE no real safety concerns with stevia use -- that's just a nice hook the FDA can hang its hat on for now, while it holds out for its fat paycheck from Coca-Cola to clear. And once it does, I have no doubt that the agency will suddenly be convinced, beyond a shadow of a doubt, about what we've known all along: that stevia is one of the best, and safest, sweeteners available.
To Better Health!
Reed Davis
It will be interesting to see how the FDA's tune about stevia changes once Coca-Cola has plunked down the hefty chunk of change required for "approval" of the all-natural sweetener. The soda giant is teaming up with another company to get a version of stevia called Rebiana approved for use in some of its products. But that hasn't happened yet, and in the meantime, the FDA continues to make life miserable for other manufacturers using stevia in their products.
The most recent company to come under attack is Hain Celestial Group, which produces Celestial Seasonings tea. One of the products in the company's "Zingers" line, a "tea to go" drink mix, uses stevia to sweeten the beverage. But since the company hasn't forked over any ransom payments -- I mean "approval fees" -- to the FDA, the agency has insisted that Hain Celestial discontinue referring to the product as beverage or drink mix and re-label it as a "dietary supplement."
The warning letter to Hain Celestial also stated that "data and information necessary to support the safe use [of stevia] have been lacking. In fact, literature reports have raised safety concerns about the use of stevia..."
It's nice that they're so concerned for our welfare, and protecting us from those "safety hazards." Except for the fact that they only bother doing it when it's convenient for them.
We both know that there ARE no real safety concerns with stevia use -- that's just a nice hook the FDA can hang its hat on for now, while it holds out for its fat paycheck from Coca-Cola to clear. And once it does, I have no doubt that the agency will suddenly be convinced, beyond a shadow of a doubt, about what we've known all along: that stevia is one of the best, and safest, sweeteners available.
To Better Health!
Reed Davis