Dr. Mercola October 02 2007 135,921 views
The South American herb stevia, which is used as a natural sweetener, has been called an “unsafe food additive” by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).The FDA sent a letter to Hain Celestial Group Inc, maker of Celestial Seasonings herbal teas, saying the stevia used in some of their teas may be dangerous to blood sugar and reproductive, cardiovascular, and renal systems.Stevia is several hundred times sweeter than sugar, and has no calories. Though it’s approved as a dietary supplement in the United States, it is not approved as a food additive. A dozen other countries, including Japan, China, and Brazil, have approved the sweetener however.Beverage giants including Coca-Cola Co. are eyeing stevia as a new low-calorie sweetener, but while the FDA has received requests to use stevia in food, they say "data and information necessary to support the safe use have been lacking."The Center for Science in the Public Interest also believes that data is lacking to support the safety of stevia in food.Coca-Cola and Cargill Inc. are working to prove the safety of the herb, but in the meantime, Hain plans to change their stevia-containing teas’ labels to state that they are supplements, not foods.Hain Celestial Group, Inc., Warning Letter August 17, 2007
Reuters September 18, 2007
Yet even more humor from the FDA and the media, who seem to have forgotten that a journalist‘s role is to DIG, not parrot.
The FDA says that stevia can‘t be used as a food additive because it "might be dangerous to blood sugar, reproductive, cardiovascular and renal systems", based on some mysteriously absent "literature reports [that] have raised safety concerns". According to the same FDA however, it‘s a-okay to use it as a dietary supplement: "Boulder, Colorado-based Hain said in a statement the FDA agreed that the company could change the products‘ labels to reflect that they are supplements and not food." I‘m far too stupid to wonder why it‘s fine when called one thing, yet potentially a destructive, nation-flattening weapon when used as a cheap, abundant sweetener that would coincidentally compete with the safe-as-mother‘s-milk health chemicals like Splenda and Aspartame.
No wonder "n FDA spokeswoman was not available for further comment." The only way she could feel more ridiculous is if she had the words "Useful Idiot" tattooed on her forhead. I‘ll bet the job of White House press secretary is looking pretty good to her right about now.
Of course, where would the story be without the jack-booted kick -- er, concerned input -- from the vegetarians at the Center for Science in the Public Interest which "believes there is not enough data to support the safety of stevia in food"? Wouldn‘t centuries of harmless use qualify it as GRAS ?
It seems a little hypocritical to claim not enough data to call the herb safe but there's enough data to claim it is dangerous... which is it, not enough data or enough? You have to have plenty of actual data from reliable scientific sources in order to make such a determination. I would think that there would be some sort of documentation that you could recover using the Freedom Of Information Act. Anybody up for that?
(Who also wants to wager on what the source of the literature is... manufacturers of aspartame, perhaps?)
I don't even like the taste and I am going to go buy A HUGE BAG right now just to spite the FDA. And I CAN get it in bulk sizes.
Stevia is heavily used in Japan ~ we all know the drill when it comes to the FDA.
I too would like to encourage Dr. Mercola to write an article on xylitol. I've read some astounding health benefits for this natural sugar substitute, such as the descriptions given on these sites:
en.wikipedia.org/.../Xylitol
www.angelfire.com/.../xylitol_natural_sweetener.html
Frauds Decieveing America are considering to take away my right to have Stevia when everyone else can consume Sucralose, Aspartame, that huge "Ph" word that Equal is made out of, Partially Hydrogenators, Shortening, High Fricken' Crap Syrup, and other ingriedients that only God knows what...????
Soon anyone can read any book they want...c'ept the Holy Bible...
Better memorize some more scripture while I can...
John, Xylitol is not all benefit and often includes undesirable side effects such as diarrhea even in small amounts.
Also make that: FDA = Fraudulent Deceitful Asses
FDA - Fatal Drug Approvers or Fraud and Death Association. Can't decide which fits better...
Dear Islander, I've noticed your messages recently replaced by a foul message about harassment which has nothing to do with the intelligent replies below it, giving me a clue as to what you said before the switcheroo. Others' posts have also been clearly replaced by other messages. Nonetheless, I thank whoever is doing this, actually, for making it clear that a switch has been made. What is really scary is the thought that someone could come in and change a person's message in subtle ways. There could be people "implicating themselves" on this site, and who would know? Recently, I have only been able to post replies, and only from my Mac. But I have not noticed anyone's replies being altered yet, so this may be a safer avenue for participation. Still, it would be good for everyone here to keep in mind that So-and-so may not have actually said such-and-such.
Pat, just an FYI. They ARE editing posts, not just deleting. The other day I had the audacity to mention prayer and that PART of my post was removed.
Pat I have been a loyal fan of Dr Mercola for years.I know that the agencies of the govt.ie: FDA USDA Homeland Security have now demanded of all sites servers and internet providers a physical jack or interface where they can monitor and log all conversations. Perhaps some of you spammed replys and I cant imagine how u would change someone elses comment unless u were an spammer or hacker delux.If you stray or get into non health related comversations you may have been blocked for that. I suggest you go back and read the TOS of this site and you will find your answer there .Dr. Christian Ryan DO
Islander, I seldom participate in this forum, I usually only read comments by others. A couple of times I have questioned the workings of the point system, only to have my post deleted almost immediately. I have always enjoyed your comments and was saddened when I saw that you had been deactivated. Welcome back......is it possible for you to tell us the name of the other health site that you mentioned. If not here, perhaps in an email. I am cassy-brown at hotmail dot com....(hopefully that will stop auto email) Occasionally you disagree with the status quo, instead of parroting what others have said.....good for you! Thanks for your response.