Steviol Glycosides

About

What it is and where it shows up.

Steviol glycosides are natural high-intensity sweeteners extracted from the leaves of Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni, a plant native to South America; they are approximately 100–400 times sweeter than table sugar. They are used as zero-calorie general-purpose sweeteners in a wide range of foods and beverages including flavoured drinks, dairy desserts, edible ices, confectionery, jams, and table-top sweetener products.

Safety summary

The regulatory and scientific consensus.

Both EFSA (2010, reaffirmed 2024) and JECFA (2009) have established a group Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI) of 4 mg/kg body weight/day expressed as steviol equivalents, covering all steviol glycosides; EFSA (2024) concluded there is insufficient justification to raise this ADI. Toxicological studies show the substances are not genotoxic or carcinogenic, and at current permitted maximum levels, dietary exposure for most adult population groups remains below the ADI. High-purity (≥95%) steviol glycosides are GRAS in the US; crude stevia leaf and unrefined extracts are not considered GRAS for use as food sweeteners.

Regulatory landscape

What food-safety regulators have decided.

Jurisdiction	Status	Note
EFSA (European Food Safety Authority) (European Union)	Approved	Authorised under Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 in 32 food categories as E 960a–d (steviol glycosides from Stevia, enzymatically produced steviol glycosides, and glucosylated steviol glycosides). ADI set at 4 mg/kg bw/day expressed as steviol equivalents; EFSA 2024 review concluded the ADI should not be raised. Specifications defined in Commission Regulation (EU) No 231/2012, amended by Commission Regulation (EU) 2023/447 to include E 960d (glucosylated steviol glycosides).source
Food Standards Agency (FSA) / Food Standards Scotland (FSS) (United Kingdom)	Approved	UK retains EU-aligned specifications for steviol glycosides (E 960) post-Brexit; ADI of 4 mg/kg bw/day (steviol equivalents) consistent with JECFA. UK Food Standards Agency has assessed fermentation-derived steviol glycosides (Reb M) under existing UK specifications framework.source
FSSAI (Food Safety and Standards Authority of India) (India)	Approved	Steviol glycoside (INS 960) is permitted in several food categories under FSS (Food Product Standards & Food Additives) Regulations including dairy-based drinks, powder analogues, dairy-based desserts, edible ices, and canned/bottled fruits. Not permitted in cocoa and chocolate products (FCS 5.1.3) or imitation chocolate products (FCS 5.1.4). FSSAI bases limits on JECFA ADI of 4 mg/kg bw/day and Codex harmonisation. FSSAI has not recommended steviol glycosides for weight loss or blood glucose control.source

Who should approach with care

Whose guidance would steer them away.

Infants — EFSA (2024) modelling shows that infants and toddlers have the highest estimated exposure at maximum permitted levels, with 95th-percentile values for toddlers potentially exceeding the ADI; steviol glycosides are also not permitted in infant formula under US GRAS conditions of use.

Children — EFSA revised exposure assessments indicate that among younger children (especially toddlers), consumption at maximum permitted levels can approach or exceed the ADI of 4 mg/kg bw/day, warranting caution about high-frequency consumption of steviol-glycoside-sweetened products.

Pregnancy — Regulatory bodies have not established specific guidance for pregnant women; the general ADI applies, but given limited pregnancy-specific clinical data, consultation with a healthcare provider is prudent for high-frequency use.

Diabetes — FSSAI has explicitly stated that non-sugar sweeteners including stevia are not recommended as a means of controlling blood glucose in individuals with diabetes, and some animal studies suggest potential glycaemic effects at pharmacological doses.

Research citations

The sources behind this verdict.

1FSSAI. Note on Non-Sugar Sweeteners (NSS) & Aspartame — FSSAI. fssai.gov.in
2FSSAI. Note on Non-Sugar Sweeteners (NSS) and Aspartame – FSSAI. mail.fssai.gov.in
3EFSA. Scientific opinion on the extension of the authorisation of use of the food additive steviol glycosides (E 960a–d) and the modification of the acceptable daily intake (ADI) for steviol, 2024. efsa.europa.eu
4PubMed. Safety of a proposed amendment of the specifications for steviol glycosides (E 960) as a food additive: to expand the list of steviol glycosides to all those identified in the leaves of Stevia Rebaudiana Bertoni, 2020. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
5EFSA. Safety of a proposed amendment of the specifications for steviol glycosides (E 960) as a food additive: to expand the list of steviol glycosides to all those identified in the leaves of Stevia Rebaudiana Bertoni, 2020. efsa.europa.eu
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Independently researched10 citations