Coca-Cola Europe welcomes the decision by the European Commission to authorise the use of steviol glycosides (‘stevia’) as a sweetener in foods and beverages. This decision paves the way for the Company to deliver more great-tasting beverages with fewer calories.
Dominique Reiniche, President Coca-Cola Europe said, “Coca-Cola Europe welcomes the European Commission’s approval of stevia as a sweetener in foods and beverages across Europe. The addition of stevia to the range of sweeteners we already use in our drinks gives us even more options to innovate and develop the best-tasting drinks for our consumers. This is another important milestone as we grow our portfolio to offer even more choice for every occasion and lifestyle.”
The introduction of stevia continues the success story of the growth of the zero-calorie category for Coca-Cola. Nearly 30years ago, Coca-ColaEurope introduced its first no-calorie, great-tasting drink, Coca-Cola Light. Today, two-thirds of its brands have low- or no-calorie options and 30% of the total volume of its 140 brands sold in Europe is low- and no-calorie.
Through the broadening of the portfolio, the average calorie content of a serving of Coca-Cola Europe’s sparkling drinks has been reduced by 10% over the past 10 years. The Company will continue to innovate using a variety of sweeteners across its beverage portfolio to deliver great products with lower calories that meet consumers’ tastes.
Stevia is another example of innovation and commitment from The Coca-Cola Company to offer consumers what they want and need. As stevia has been approved as a sweetener for use in foods and beverages in France since 2009, The Coca-Cola Company was one of the first in Europe to launch a beverage sweetened with stevia, in combination with other natural sweeteners. Since March 2010, a great-tasting, stevia-sweetened Fanta Still has been available to French consumers, with 30% less sugar.
The stevia used in its drinks is the result of pioneering work done by The Coca-Cola Company and Cargill to develop a zero-calorie sweetener from natural origins.
Sweeteners made from stevia have a long history of use in several countries, including Japan and Paraguay, and they are permitted for use in many countries including the U.S., Canada, France, Mexico, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, China, Russia, Australia, Argentina, New Zealand, Colombia, Peru, Paraguay, Uruguay, Brazil, Switzerland, Malaysia, Ghana, Turkey, Morocco and Nigeria.
In 2010, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) assessed the safety of steviol glycosides from stevia and established an Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI) for their safe use. This opinion has been confirmed today with final EU regulatory approval of sweeteners made from stevia.
Stevia plant is a small shrub from the chrysanthemum family that has a long history of use as a sweetener. The plant has been grown, harvested and used in South America to sweeten foods and beverages for two centuries, with the Guarani people of Paraguay being the first to use powdered stevia leaves to sweeten beverages.