Is Stevia Safe?
Stevia is the additive E960 — a natural sweetener extracted from stevia leaves — safe, vegan, halal and calorie-free.
Is Stevia safe to eat?
E960 is considered safe. It is authorised across the EU, UK and US, and safety evaluations by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) have not identified health concerns at the levels used in food. For most people there is no reason to avoid E960.
EFSA status: Authorised in the EU — no safety concern at current levels of use
Source: European Food Safety Authority
What is Stevia?
E960 is the E-number for steviol glycosides, one of the artificial & intense sweeteners group of food additives (E900–E999). Additives in this group sweeten foods with fewer or zero calories than sugar. Extracted from the leaves of the stevia plant. Steviol glycosides come from the leaves of Stevia rebaudiana, a South American plant used as a sweetener by the Guaraní people for centuries before EU approval in 2011. Like every E-number, E960 has been evaluated and authorised for use in food in the European Union — the 'E' literally stands for Europe, and a number is only granted after a safety assessment. That authorisation doesn't mean every additive suits every diet or that all concerns are settled, which is why we break down the safety, vegan, vegetarian and halal status of E960 in detail below.
What foods contain Stevia?
E960 (Stevia) is typically found in:
- Soft drinks
- Tabletop sweeteners
- Yoghurts
- Sugar-reduced products
- Protein products
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Stevia bad for you?
Yes. E960 is authorised in the EU, UK and US, and EFSA evaluations found no health concern at normal food levels.
Is Stevia vegan?
E960 is vegan. Extracted from the leaves of the stevia plant, with no animal involvement in standard production.
Is Stevia halal?
E960 is halal. Extracted from the leaves of the stevia plant, with no haram source involved.
Full guide to E960 (Steviol Glycosides) →
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Additive data sourced from Open Food Facts (ODbL licence) and the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA).