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Home > Blogs > Taste: Dayton food and restaurants > Archives > 2008 > December > 16 > Entry
Coke to sell drinks with new zero-calorie sweetener not yet approved by FDA
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The Coca-Cola company is poised to begin selling juice drinks sweetened by Stevia, a new zero-calorie sweetener that has not yet received full approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, according to this Associated Press report.
Rival Pepsi apparently has a couple of products ready to roll out but says it won’t begin selling them until the FDA approval comes.
Would you try the new Coke products?
Permalink | Comments (11) | Post your comment | Categories: Food and health
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By Carol
December 19, 2008 8:15 AM | Link to this
It’s nice to see that companies are paying attention to their consumers. More people are looking for healthy, natural products instead of consuming dangerous man-made chemicals that cause harm. The FDA knows the harm these chemicals cause but do nothing. The FDA is not looking out for the best interest of the American people. I have used Stevia for a couple of years and love it. Go Coke.
By Chris
December 16, 2008 11:36 PM | Link to this
Heck yes, I’ll try it.. When can I buy some?
By Frylock
December 16, 2008 10:21 PM | Link to this
I like it, I use Stevia. I find a blend of Stevia and Splenda produces the best taste. I re-read the article, and they are going to use it in juice drinks, no cola yet. It also says Stevia is a “new” sweetener, lol. Right. Oh well. Add me to the “screw the FDA” list as well.
By theshawn
December 16, 2008 5:32 PM | Link to this
Good for Coke, screw the FDA and their “if it’ll postpone one death” attitude about approving drugs that could help people.
By protestor
December 16, 2008 3:16 PM | Link to this
Introduction to GRAS affirmation petition submitted by the American Herbal Products Association, April 23, 1992 “(The FDA action on stevia is) a restraint of trade to benefit the artificial sweetener industry.” Jon Kyl (R), AZ in a 1993 letter to former FDA Commissioner David Kessler about the 1991 stevia “import alert.” “Stevia has a political problem.” Rob McCaleb, president Herb Research Foundation “I had one guy from the FDA tell me ‘if we wanted to make carrots (be) against the law, we could do it.’” Kerry Nielson, former director of operations at Sunrider International, discussing the 1985 FDA seizure of his company’s stevia. “Even if they have reviewed these studies, the only possible way to report that the results showed detrimental effects is by taking information out of context. If this is the case, one concludes that these FDA scientists are incompetent and irresponsible, or if not, they must belong to some sort of conspiracy group to carry on a sinister agenda against this plant with the objective to keep it away from American consumers by attributing to it safety issues that do not exist.”
By shoppa
December 16, 2008 2:11 PM | Link to this
Go Coke! I am all set to plant my first crop of Stevia on the back 40. Hopefully this will provide a supplemental income so I can cut back on my other three jobs.
By 1 Who Cares
December 16, 2008 12:50 PM | Link to this
The stevia herb is a natural sweetener used for centuries in South America. It most likely will not be approved by the FDA as a sweetener. They will only alow it to be used a a “dietary supplement” This has much to do with government lobbyists’ concern with the high probability of decrease in sales of artificial sweeteners like NutraSweet, Equal and Splenda (Just do your homework). It’s quite disturbing what goes on sometimes behind our backs when we elect our public officials to do the right thing! Do YOUR homework & if you would like to encourage the FDA to lift its ban on stevia, write to the FDA Commissioner at Fishers Lane in Rockville, MD 20857. You might want to request that the FDA ban aspartame while you’re at it.
By tbill
December 16, 2008 12:14 PM | Link to this
The stuff (stevia-derived sugar substitute) is 10 cents per packet. Is sugar such a terrible thing? No, and it’s only 15 calories/teaspoon. If this is the only way you can cut 15 calories, you’re suckered by the marketing people and need to rethink your diet. Sugar: the natural sweetener for millions of years! 100% safe!
By reader 101
December 16, 2008 12:04 PM | Link to this
Yes!! Please FDA let us have something natural instead of chemicals. I have used Stevia since since I was informed about it in the Dr. Atkin’s Diet book. Here’s a new crop farmers could make some money from. It’s natural. Why does the FDA have to be involved?
By Sue Coke
December 16, 2008 11:58 AM | Link to this
yes. if i get sick i will sue the heck out of coke.
By patty
December 16, 2008 11:43 AM | Link to this
Considering I can grow stevia in my back yard, I would be happier with that in my drinks than nutrasweet. They have been selling stevia extract in health food stores for years.The FDA probably hasn’t approved it yet because there’s no huge corporate lobby for it.