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Is Powdered Stevia Safe to Use? Answers for Our Online Community.
Many members of the PPNF community have questioned whether or not powdered stevia is safe to use.
Our answer is yes, so long as you select your stevia products as carefully and thoroughly you do the rest of your food.
White, powdered stevia is the result of processing that removes the chlorophyll and leaf fiber of the stevia leaves, and then mixes white powder into the resulting stevia extract containing the steviocides and the rebaudiosides. The powder used varies from one manufacturer to another, and may include erythritol, maltodextrin or fructooligosaccharides (FOS). It is preferable that the product uses no fillers and that non-GMO erythritol is used. It is important that the steviocides and rebaudiosides (the sweet components of stevia) be extracted non-toxically (such as with water).
Where consumers run into issues with powdered stevia products is when these components are extracted with a solvent which leaves a toxic residue. Brands such as Sweet Leaf and Stevita use water extraction methods to produce their powdered stevia products. Both of these brands do not use fillers either. There are other high quality powdered stevia brands available.
Consumers have been shocked to find that manufacturers also mix cane sugar into their powdered stevia products!
As with any other food purchase, do your research and read the ingredient labels.