A plant by the name of Stevia has received a lot of attention recently. It looks promising as a new generation of zero-calorie sweetener – great news for people watching their waistlines, as well as those with diabetes limiting their sugar intake. One company, Cargill, makes a product made from Stevia under the brand name Truvia. Pepsi-Co is working with The Whole Earth Sweetener Company and they call their version PureVia. Here’s the scoop:
Truvia and PureVia contain Rebiana. This is a derivative of the leaves of the stevia plant. The companies that make it (Cargill and Coca-Cola) report that it “consists of only the best-tasting components of the stevia leaf.” The sweet leaf of the stevia plant is dried, soaked in water, and further purified to provide a sweet taste with no calories.
Truvia also contains erythritol, a sugar alcohol that acts as a carrier for the sweetener. It is a sugar alcohol with a digestive track that leaves very little in the large intestine (as is the case with other sugar alcohols), which reduces the likelihood of gas or bloating.
Rebiana has been studied and found to provide no calories or affect blood sugar in people with type 2 diabetes. The Coca-Cola Company claims its product has no aftertaste, despite the fact that many products that contain Stevia have a lingering aftertaste for many people.
Coca-Cola is poised to launch some Truvia-containing beverages, even while the compound is pending FDA approval. The Pepsi company will follow shortly, but is awaiting the final go-ahead from the FDA, which was expected in November. The rebiana product itself is allowed in food products under the GRAS (generally regarded as safe) list under FDA law. Rebiana’s sweetness makes it less suitable for carbonated drinks, so look for it early in teas and juices at your grocery store.