Editing Stevia (section)

==History==
In 1899, Swiss botanist [[Moisés Santiago Bertoni]], while conducting research in eastern Paraguay, first described the plant and the sweet taste in detail.<ref>{{cite journal |last=Bertoni |first=Moisés Santiago |author-link=Moisés Santiago Bertoni |title=[no title cited] |journal=Revista de Agronomia de l'Assomption |volume=1 |page=35 |year=1899}}</ref> Only limited research was conducted on the topic until, in 1931, two French chemists isolated the [[glycoside]]s that give stevia its sweet taste.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Bridel |first1=M. |last2=Lavielle |first2=R.  |title=Sur le principe sucre des feuilles de kaa-he-e (''Stevia rebaundiana''&nbsp;B) |journal=Comptes Rendus de l'Académie des Sciences |issue=Parts 192 |pages=1123–1125 |year=1931}}</ref>

=== Early regulation ===
During the 1990s, the United States [[Food and Drug Administration]] (FDA) received two petitions requesting that stevia be classified as [[generally recognized as safe]] (GRAS), but the FDA "disagreed with [the] conclusions [detailed in the petitions]".<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2001/03/07/dining/so-sweet-so-natural-so-la.html |title=So sweet, so natural, so L.A. |access-date=15 September 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170906184459/http://www.nytimes.com/2001/03/07/dining/so-sweet-so-natural-so-la.html |archive-date=6 September 2017 |url-status=live|newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |date=2001-03-07 |last1=Drake |first1=Laurie }}</ref> Stevia remained banned for all uses until the [[Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994]], after which the FDA revised its stance and permitted stevia to be used as a [[dietary supplement]], although still not as a food additive.<ref name="McCaleb_1997_1">{{cite web |last=McCaleb |first=Rob |title=Controversial Products in the Natural Foods Market |publisher=Herb Research Foundation |year=1997 |url=http://herbs.org/greenpapers/controv.html#stevia |access-date=8 November 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061018132214/http://www.herbs.org/greenpapers/controv.html#stevia |archive-date=18 October 2006 |url-status=live}}</ref> In 1999, prompted by early studies, the [[European Commission]] banned stevia's use in food products within the European Union pending further research.<ref name="EC">{{cite report |publisher=[[European Commission]] |department=Scientific Committee on Food |date=June 1999 |url=http://ec.europa.eu/food/fs/sc/scf/out34_en.pdf |title=Opinion on stevioside as a sweetener |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061023103749/http://ec.europa.eu/food/fs/sc/scf/out34_en.pdf |archive-date=23 October 2006}}</ref> In 2006 and 2016, research data compiled in the safety evaluations released by the [[World Health Organization]] found no adverse effects.<ref name="WHO" /><ref name="Joint FAO/WHO2016" />{{rp|60}}

In December 2008, the FDA gave a "no objection" approval for GRAS status to [[Truvia]]{{efn|[[Truvia]] is the [[brand-name]] of a sweetener developed by [[Cargill]] and the [[Coca-Cola Company]].}} and [[PureVia]],{{efn|[[PureVia]] is the [[brand-name]] of a sweetener developed by [[PepsiCo]] and the [[Whole Earth Sweetener Company]], a subsidiary of [[Merisant]].}} both of which use {{nowrap|[[rebaudioside A]]}} derived from the ''Stevia rebaudiana'' plant.<ref>{{cite news |last=Newmarker |first=Chris |title=Federal regulators give OK for Cargill's Truvia sweetener |newspaper=Minneapolis / St. Paul Business Journal |url=http://www.bizjournals.com/twincities/stories/2008/12/15/daily38.html |access-date=18 December 2008 |date=18 December 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090101145358/http://www.bizjournals.com/twincities/stories/2008/12/15/daily38.html |archive-date=1 January 2009 |url-status=live}}</ref> However, the FDA said that these products are not stevia, but a highly purified ''Stevia rebaudiana''-extract product.<ref>{{cite web |title=What refined ''Stevia'' preparations have been evaluated by FDA to be used as a sweetener? |url=https://www.fda.gov/AboutFDA/Transparency/Basics/ucm214865.htm |website=fda.gov |publisher=U.S. Food and Drug Administration |access-date=22 March 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140423015313/https://www.fda.gov/aboutfda/transparency/basics/ucm214865.htm |archive-date=23 April 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2015, the FDA still regarded stevia as "not an approved food additive", and stated that it "has not been affirmed as GRAS in the United States due to inadequate toxicological information".<ref>{{cite report |publisher=[[Food and Drug Administration]] |edition=1995, rev 1996, 2005 |url=http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/cms_ia/importalert_119.html |series=Import Alert |id=Import Alert 45-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151030052453/http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/cms_ia/importalert_119.html |archive-date=30 October 2015 |title=Automatic detention of ''Stevia'' leaves, extract of ''Stevia'' leaves, and food containing stevia}}</ref> In June 2016, the [[U.S. Customs and Border Protection]] issued an order of detention for stevia products made in China based on information that the products were made using [[prison labor]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cbp.gov/newsroom/national-media-release/cbp-commissioner-issues-detention-order-stevia-produced-china-forced |title=CBP Commissioner issues detention order on stevia produced in China with forced labor |date=1 June 2016 |access-date=14 April 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170508040816/https://www.cbp.gov/newsroom/national-media-release/cbp-commissioner-issues-detention-order-stevia-produced-china-forced |archive-date=8 May 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref> Certain high-purity ''stevia glycoside'' extracts have been [[generally recognized as safe]] (GRAS) and may be lawfully marketed and added to food products.<ref name=FDA2017/>

=== Commercial use ===
Use of stevia as a sweetener began in Japan,{{Primary source inline|date=July 2023}} with the [[aqueous]] [[extract]] of the leaves yielding purified steviosides developed as sweeteners. Japanese firm [[Morita Kagaku Kogyo Co., Ltd.|Morita Kagaku Kogyo]] claims they were the first, in 1971, to commercialize stevia sweetener production.<ref name="MoritaKagakuKogyo1">{{cite web |title=Stevia |publisher=Morita Kagaku Kogyo|date=2007|url=http://www.morita-kagaku-kogyo.co.jp/e/index.htm |access-date=5 July 2023 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131027055558/http://www.morita-kagaku-kogyo.co.jp/e/index.htm |archive-date=27 October 2013}}</ref>

In the mid-1980s, stevia was commonly used in U.S. [[natural foods]] and [[health food]] industries, as a noncaloric natural sweetener for teas and weight-loss blends.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Zeavin |first=Edna |via=Google Books |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LLMXAQAAIAAJ&q=Stevia,+also+called+sweet+leaf+or+sweet+herb,+is+making+inroads+into+the+health+food+and+natural+foods+markets. |title=The outlaw herbal sweetener |magazine=East West Journal |date=February 1988 |page=28 |quote=''Stevia'', also called sweet leaf or sweet herb, is making inroads into the health food and natural foods markets.}}</ref><ref name=keville/> The makers of the synthetic sweetener [[NutraSweet]] (at the time Monsanto) asked the FDA to require testing of stevia extracts.<ref name=keville>{{cite magazine |last=Keville |first=Kathi |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=oQgAAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA47 |via=Google Books |title=Exploring South America's medicinal plants |magazine=[[Vegetarian Times]] |date=April 1987 |page=47}}</ref> <!-- DO NOT ADD ARBITRARY STEVIA PRODUCTS TO THIS SECTION - IS ABOUT SIGNIFICANT EVENTS, NOT A LIST OF PRODUCTS AND MANUFACTURERS -->
In 2007, [[the Coca-Cola Company]] announced plans to obtain approval for its ''Stevia''-derived sweetener, [[Rebiana]], for use as a food additive within the United States by 2009, as well as plans to market Rebiana-sweetened products in 12&nbsp;countries that allow stevia's use as a food additive.<ref>{{cite news |title=Coke and Cargill teaming on new drink sweetener |last=Stanford |first=Duane D. |newspaper=Atlanta Journal-Constitution |date=31 May 2007 |access-date=31 May 2007 |url=http://www.ajc.com/business/content/business/coke/stories/2007/05/31/0531bizcoke.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070603082921/http://www.ajc.com/business/content/business/coke/stories/2007/05/31/0531bizcoke.html |archive-date=3 June 2007 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Coke, Cargill aim for a shake-up in sweeteners |last1=Etter |first1=Lauren |last2=McKay |first2=Betsy |name-list-style=amp |work=The Wall Street Journal|date=31 May 2007 |access-date=1 June 2007 |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB118058140982419717?mod=rss_whats_news_us |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180124195624/https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB118058140982419717?mod=rss_whats_news_us |archive-date=24 January 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref>

In May 2008, Coca-Cola and [[Cargill]] announced the availability of Truvia, a consumer-brand ''Stevia'' sweetener containing [[erythritol]] and Rebiana,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.truvia.com/about/ingredients/default.aspx |title=Truvia ingredients |access-date=15 May 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090807113856/http://www.truvia.com/about/ingredients/default.aspx |archive-date=7 August 2009}}</ref> which the FDA permitted as a food additive in December 2008.<ref name="approval1">{{cite web |title=''Stevia'' sweetener gets US FDA go-ahead |url=http://www.foodnavigator-usa.com/Legislation/Stevia-sweetener-gets-US-FDA-go-ahead |date=18 December 2008 |access-date=11 May 2009 |agency=Decision News Media SAS |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090618165807/http://www.foodnavigator-usa.com/Legislation/Stevia-sweetener-gets-US-FDA-go-ahead |archive-date=18 June 2009 |url-status=live}}</ref> Coca-Cola announced intentions to release stevia-sweetened beverages in late December 2008.<ref name="preapproval">{{cite news |title=Coke to sell drinks with stevia; Pepsi holds off |agency=Associated Press |newspaper=The Seattle Times |date=15 December 2008 |access-date=16 December 2008 |url=http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2008522412_apdrinkssweetener.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081219112723/http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2008522412_apdrinkssweetener.html |archive-date=19 December 2008 |url-status=live}}</ref> From 2013 onwards, [[Coca-Cola Life]], containing stevia as a sweetener, was launched in various countries around the world.<ref name=Geller>{{cite news |last=Geller |first=Martinne |title=Coke to sell 'natural' mid-calorie cola in Argentina |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/cocacola-argentina-idUSL2N0F21Z020130626 |access-date=27 June 2013 |newspaper=[[Reuters]] |date=26 June 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130627122534/http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/06/26/cocacola-argentina-idUSL2N0F21Z020130626 |archive-date=27 June 2013 |url-status=live}}</ref>

Shortly afterward, [[PepsiCo]] and [[Pure Circle]] announced PureVia, their brand of ''Stevia''-based sweetener, but withheld release of beverages sweetened with {{nowrap|rebaudioside A}} until receipt of FDA confirmation. Since the FDA permitted Truvia and PureVia, both the Coca-Cola Company and PepsiCo have introduced products that contain their new sweeteners.<ref name="nyt">{{cite news |title=FDA approves 2&nbsp;new sweeteners |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/18/business/18sweet.html |date=17 December 2008 |access-date=11 May 2009 |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |agency=Associated Press}}</ref>