Studies show stevioside does not present a health threat

I see no legal basis for the Government's decision not to allow the sale in Hong Kong of stevioside (a natural sweetener extracted from stevia leaves) and its threat to prosecute food importers.

Stevioside is not contraband. It is not an illicit drug. Even a government spokeswoman has admitted there is no evidence to show that stevioside consumption is harmful to human health. The only excuse the Government has for banning it is that stevioside is not on its approved list of 'artificial sweeteners' In fact, it is only used as a flavour enhancer. It cannot be called an 'artificial sweetener'.

It has been available freely in the US as a food supplement since 1994.

Stevioside is also widely available in Canada in health food stores. Government agencies there are actually helping private enterprise explore the feasibility of commercially producing stevia in the country. The Ontario Government through its agriculture ministry has conducted studies and experimental growing of stevia plants.

Extensive research has been done around the world on the safety aspects of stevia. In a petition submitted to the US Food and Drug Administration by the Thomas J. Lipton Company in February 1995, more than 1,000 articles were cited. In these articles, no author had ever reported any adverse health consequences associated with the consumption of the stevia leaf.

Stevioside was introduced into Japan in 1970. It rapidly became popular and now represents close to half of the market share of potently sweet substances consumed in Japan. If officials in Hong Kong ban all food products containing stevia, which I doubt they have the legal right to do, they will have to ban most food items from Japan.