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I see that the subject of Stevia has cropped again recently. As some of you who have been with the forum a long time may remember, Stevia is a sweetener that is banned throughout the EU (including the UK). However it is widely used in Japan and South America. In the US it is licenced but with restrictions as to its use.
The reason that it is banned is because research has shown it to have two rather nasty side-effects. These are
1) it produces effects in the male reproductive system that could affect fertility
2) a component part of Stevia, steviol, is genotoxic (i.e. it causes mutations in DNA).
Unfortunately a website that has been mentioned recently in this forum states "The only allowed sweetener is stevia". Additionally a recent article in the Telegraph mentions Stevia as "the sweetener of choice".
Just to be absolutely certain that the UK ban is still in force I have checked with the Food Standards Agency and their response states
"Many sweeteners are not allowed to be imported or sold in the UK. This is because sweeteners and other food additives are tightly regulated within the EU and may only be used once their safety has been rigorously assessed. An example of a sweetener that is not allowed to be imported or sold in the EU is Stevioside, which is also known as Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni . This does not have clearance to be marketed in the EU as it is a high intensity sweetener, 250-300 times sweeter than sucrose."
You may find Stevia advertised for sale - one of our correspondents has recently purchased some via Ebay. In the UK it is not illegal to buy it, but it is illegal to sell it, but please be aware of the possible side-effects if you are tempted to try it. There are many much safer alternatives.
The reason that it is banned is because research has shown it to have two rather nasty side-effects. These are
1) it produces effects in the male reproductive system that could affect fertility
2) a component part of Stevia, steviol, is genotoxic (i.e. it causes mutations in DNA).
Unfortunately a website that has been mentioned recently in this forum states "The only allowed sweetener is stevia". Additionally a recent article in the Telegraph mentions Stevia as "the sweetener of choice".
Just to be absolutely certain that the UK ban is still in force I have checked with the Food Standards Agency and their response states
"Many sweeteners are not allowed to be imported or sold in the UK. This is because sweeteners and other food additives are tightly regulated within the EU and may only be used once their safety has been rigorously assessed. An example of a sweetener that is not allowed to be imported or sold in the EU is Stevioside, which is also known as Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni . This does not have clearance to be marketed in the EU as it is a high intensity sweetener, 250-300 times sweeter than sucrose."
You may find Stevia advertised for sale - one of our correspondents has recently purchased some via Ebay. In the UK it is not illegal to buy it, but it is illegal to sell it, but please be aware of the possible side-effects if you are tempted to try it. There are many much safer alternatives.