Truvia: Has the FDA “Folded” on the Use of Stevia?
The FDA and the sugar and artificial sweetener lobbies have fought hard to keep us from using and being able to buy stevia. Now, they have approved a Cargill product for general use! Wow! Cargill’s “Truvia” went on sale yesterday in New York, is available on-line, and their site says it will be generally available in the Fall of 2008! This looks promising! Truvia is a combination of stevia and erythritol, another sweetener derived from natural sources. Erythritol is produced by a natural process, and is also found in fruits like grapes and pears. Cargill is billing their product as “Nature’s Perfect Sweetness.” Having watched the battle over stevia use, and having used it myself for a very long time, I am looking forward to general availability of a nature sugar alternative for sweetening my tea in restaurants!
A blurb from the web site about Truvia: “It’s time to feel good about sweet. And Truvia, a natural sweetener is something to feel good about. It starts with stevia, renowned for its sweet taste. But that’s only the beginning. The stevia plant that Truvia, natural sweetener originates from has been used in South America for sweetening foods and beverages for more than 200 years. And though stevia has been commonly used to sweeten foods, it often contains a bitter aftertaste. The difference with Truvia, is the key part of the stevia plant, which is rebiana. By taking the best-tasting part of the stevia plant, rebiana gives Truvia a brand-new way to enjoy life’s every day moments. Nature has never tasted so sweet. Stevia leaves were discovered centuries ago by the native people of South America and used to flavor hot drinks. But it isn’t just South America. Stevia, and products derived from stevia, is used all over the world, including the United States, Japan and parts of Europe. And with Truvia, you’ll get all of that, zero calories and a clean, pure taste to match. Now that’s universal sweetness.”