FDA approves Coca-Cola, PepsiCo sweeteners derived from stevia plant

ATLANTA, GEORGIA and PURCHASE, N.Y. The Food and Drug Administration has announced that a sweetener derived from the stevia plant that were developed by Cargill and Coca-Cola, and one developed by PepsiCo, have been approved for use in foods and beverages.

Coca-Cola and Cargill had partnered to develop the branded sweetener Truvia which will be used to sweeten soft drinks and fruit-flavored beverages, the companies have said.

PepsiCo’s PureVia sweetener, also created from a process using rebiana, a natural extract from the South American –native stevia plant, also received designation as “generally safe” for human consumption.