EFSA Establishes Acceptable Daily Intake for Steviol Glycosides

The European Food Safety Authority’s (EFSA’s) Panel on Food Additives and Nutrient Sources has assessed “the safety of steviol glycosides, sweeteners extracted from plant leaves, and established an Acceptable Daily Intake [ADI] for their safe use.” According to EFSA, toxicological testing showed that the substances, such as stevioside and rebaudioside, “are not genotoxic, nor carcinogenic, or linked to any adverse effects on the reproductive human system or for the developing child.”

The panel has set an ADI for steviol glycosides of 4mg per kg body weight per day, a level “consistent” with the joint recommendation of the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization and World Health Organization. As the panel noted, however, “this ADI could be exceeded by both adults and children if these sweeteners are used at the maximum level proposed by the applicants” seeking authorization to market the sweetener. In light of this assessment, the European Commission must now consider whether to authorize these substances “for their purposed use . . . in sugar free or reduced energy foods such as certain flavored drinks, confectionery with no added sugar or energy reduced soups.” See EFSA News, April 14, 2010.