Stevia Price Increase
Starting from Q1 2014, the Stevia price has
increased significantly by around 20%. According to sources from the
growers’ side, the Stevia Rebaudianum cultivation in China has
drastically declined over the past few years, which resulted in a
price increase in the North American market.
GWI explains that by 2010, Chinese production
exceeded global demand and the stevia farmer‘s profit margins were
slim, so the cultivation area already began to decrease in 2011. The
reason that a shortfall is just now predicted for 2014 is that the
market has been working through reserves left from the 2010 and 2011
harvests. It is reported that growers haven‘t benefited a s much as
expected from increased demand, yet some increase in cultivation
area is planned for 2014.
Sources
1. Green Wave Ingredients (GWI). The Stevia
Paradox: story behind the sweet trend.
Published on Friday, May 09 2014:
http://www.gwiusa.com/index.php/latestnews/108-stevia-paradox-story-behind-market-trend
2.
Penner R, Shanks T, Timcke A., et al. Stevia from Paraguay.
Asuncion, Paraguay: USAID. September 2004:
http://pdf.usaid.gov/pdf_docs/PNADB003.pdf
France first in Europe to anticipate
Stevia approval
Food manufacturers in France are
hoping to be the first in Europe to use the high-intensity stevia extract
Rebaudioside-A (also known as Reb A and Rebiana), before the rest of
continent receives full approval, reported Food Navigator USA. Read more..http://www.ausfoodnews.com.au/2009/06/02/france-first-in-europe-to-anticipate-stevia-approval.html
In
December 2008:
The US Food and Drug Administration (US FDA) stated
it had no objection to the conclusion of an expert panel that
rebaudioside A is generally recognized as safe (GRAS) for use as a
general purpose sweetener. Prior to this, stevia-based
ingredients were only permitted for use as a dietary supplement in
the U.S.
JECFA Conclusion: Stevia and stevioside are safe
The
Joint Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA), an independent,
international expert panel administered by the United Nations and
World Health Organization, has conducted a thorough scientific
review of all the available scientific data on steviol glycosides,
including rebaudioside A (used in rebiana) and concluded that they
are safe for their intended use - to sweeten foods and beverages and
established a permanent Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI) level.
Coca-Cola, Pepsi Launch Stevia-Sweetened Drinks
Cargill rolling out natural, no-calorie sweetener
Geneva 2005
The WHO Committee noted that stevioside has shown some evidence of pharmacological effects in patients with hypertension or with type-2 diabetes at doses corresponding to about 12.5–25mg/kgbw per day
(equivalent to 5–10mg/kgbw per day expressed as steviol). The evidence available at present was inadequate to assess whether these pharmacological effects would also occur at lower levels of dietary
exposure, which could lead to adverse effects in some individuals (e.g. those with hypotension or diabetes). The Committee therefore decided to allocate a temporary ADI, pending submission of further
data on the pharmacological effects of steviol glycosides in humans.
World Health Organization Findings on Stevia: Evidence Shows Stevia Affects Patients With Hypertension and Type 2 Diabetes:
Stevia in Canada
According to Health Canada Sugar Substitutes section
Purified stevia extract is regulated
as a food additive in Canada. More....
ARTICLES ON STEVIA:
STEVIA REFERENCES AND RESEARCH STUDY
