Coca-Cola, in a joint application with Malaysian company, Pure Circle, which specialises in extraction of natural goodness from plants, has requested for use of stevial glycosides (commonly called stevia) singly or in combination with allied nutritive sweeteners sucrose, glucose and fructose. The application was made a month before.
A total of 15 product categories have been included in Coca-Cola’s application to the regulatory body, say sources. A mail to FSSAI on the beverage major’s application remained unanswered till the time of going to press.
Stevia is also awaiting approval from CODEX Alimentarius, an international body created by the Food and Agriculture Organisation and the World Health Organisation, for its usage across product forms.
Coca-Cola’s move is likely to set off a wave of applications from allied companies, say beverage industry sources.
In recent months, FSSAI has notified the use of additives Acesulfame potassium (also called Acesulfame K) and sucralose or Splenda as a di-blend in carbonated water. This paves the way for their use as substitutes to sugar in carbonated drinks such as Pepsi, Thums Up and Coca-Cola.
A di-blend means the two additives will be used in combination with each other, helping manufacturers achieve a sweetness level closer to sugar. Individually, say food science experts, additives are considered sweeter than sugar. In combination, manufacturers can achieve the "profile of sugar" far more than when additives are used standalone.
But critics argue that stevia is a better alternative to the above. "It is herbal in nature, extracted from a plant called stevia rebaudiana," says Vibha Varshney, health researcher at New Delhi-based Centre for Science and Environment. "While Acesulfame K, Splenda, Aspartame, etc are synthesied chemicals that are carcinogenic or cancer-causing. There are few studies to establish the safety of Acesulfame K and Splenda, though Aspartame has been extensively studied.”