In Brief: Stevia import alert

Stevia import alert: FDA revises three-year import alert on the herbal ingredient stevia on Sept. 18. FDA will allow importation of the ingredient if it is labeled as a dietary supplement or if it is to be used solely in the production of a dietary supplement product. It will be considered an unsafe food additive if used in a dietary supplement for a "technical effect," such as sweetening and flavoring and is labeled as such, the agency said. FDA says data are currently inadequate to approve stevia as a food additive or affirm the ingredient as GRAS. The American Herbal Products Association petitioned the agency to affirm the GRAS status of stevia, which is said to be 250-300 times sweeter than sugar and without calories...