Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) has called for submissions on permitting a wider range of steviol glycosides to be used as intense sweeteners.

FSANZ Chief Executive Officer Steve McCutcheon said the Applicant, PureCircle Limited, is seeking to amend the definition of steviol glycosides in the Food Standards Code to include all minor steviol glycosides extracted from the stevia leaf.

“Steviol glycosides are permitted food additives in the Codex Alimentarius General Standard for Food Additives, and in many countries including the USA, the European Union, Canada and many Asian, and Central and South American countries,” Mr McCutcheon said.

“The additional minor steviol glycosides are claimed to provide improved flavour and taste compared to those currently permitted.

“No evidence was found to suggest that the proposed changes pose any public health and safety concerns.”

All FSANZ decisions on applications are notified to ministers responsible for food regulation who can decide to ask for a review or agree that the standard should become law.

The closing date for submissions is 6pm, 19 December 2016.
More information
Read the call for submissions report
Consumer information on intense sweeteners
How to make a submission

http://www.foodstandards.gov.au/media/Pages/Call-for-submissions-on-broader-definition-for-steviol-glycosides-.aspx