Editing Stevia (section)

=== 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>