Stevia & the FDA (Full Version)

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subfever -> Stevia & the FDA (5/5/2008 10:54:23 PM)

http://www.stevia.net/fda.htm



Hippiekinkster -> RE: Stevia & the FDA (5/5/2008 11:25:06 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: subfever

http://www.stevia.net/fda.htm
So?



heartcream -> RE: Stevia & the FDA (5/6/2008 12:02:22 AM)

What a drag, man! It is entirely boring and horrible what is going on with our food. It makes me sick literally, and emotionally it breaks my heart. I am speechless with what is going on with these companies that dont care about the people eating the food. It is one thing to try out some idea when folks didnt know any better but now, come on. Let us humans eat normal healthy food. Why are they trying to make it illegal to grow healing herbs for example, and make it so you arent allowed to tell folks what it is good for. The outrage, the despair, the lunacy!

Walk off! Walk off!



Bluebird -> RE: Stevia & the FDA (5/6/2008 12:10:57 AM)

Not sure how old (or paranoid) that article is, but I regularly buy stevia at Trader Joe's in the sweetener section.  It's readily available, not illegal as far as I can tell.  It's kind of an acquired taste - it does NOT taste like sugar to me, but it does satisfy that sweetness craving enough.



batshalom -> RE: Stevia & the FDA (5/6/2008 6:14:32 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: heartcream

Why are they trying to make it illegal to grow healing herbs for example, and make it so you arent allowed to tell folks what it is good for. The outrage, the despair, the lunacy!



When the claims can be tested and validated in a lab setting, then it will be legal to make claims about a particular product.

It might be interesting to note that the FDA can only touch a supplement when it causes adverse effects. There are even incidents of finding manmade hormones in "herbal" supplements (PC Spes comes to mind) and cases of the bottle not containing what the label indicates.

I'm not saying the FDA should control all supplements, but I do believe there should be some kind of control, other than simply trusting the manufacturer. Herbal remedies have been used for years but face it, these people aren't out to make you well - they're out to get your money. Additionally, although the supplements have been used since ancient times, in some cases, the dose you get now is so much higher and more concentrated than before that there's no telling what you're doing to your body (especially if you get a bottle that just happens to have something not natural inside it).

Caveat emptor. That's all I'm sayin'.



mistoferin -> RE: Stevia & the FDA (5/6/2008 6:44:01 AM)

Well I certainly wouldn't feel more at ease if the FDA took any more control of things. They proved in all of the recent food crises and the pet food scare that they are about as useful as tits on a boar hog.

Interesting thing to note. It is illegal to get drugs from Canada and Mexico. My mom was just hospitalized because the antibiotics she was prescribed for an upper respiratory infection didn't work and made her sick as a dog. They were manufactured in CROATIA......perfectly legal and paid for by Blue Cross.



LondonArt -> RE: Stevia & the FDA (5/6/2008 6:53:07 AM)

I do wish people would provide actual commentary when they post random links. "Here is a thing. Click it. I have no opinion on it one way or the other" just isn't really very interesting.



Hippiekinkster -> RE: Stevia & the FDA (5/7/2008 1:56:23 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: LondonArt

I do wish people would provide actual commentary when they post random links. "Here is a thing. Click it. I have no opinion on it one way or the other" just isn't really very interesting.
Hence my "So?"



subfever -> RE: Stevia & the FDA (5/7/2008 3:24:24 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Bluebird

Not sure how old (or paranoid) that article is, but I regularly buy stevia at Trader Joe's in the sweetener section.  It's readily available, not illegal as far as I can tell.  It's kind of an acquired taste - it does NOT taste like sugar to me, but it does satisfy that sweetness craving enough.


Yes, I buy mine at Trader Joe's also. After years of battle with the FDA, it's no longer illegal to sell it, but it's still illegal to label it as a sweetener.

I agree that it does not taste like sugar. It has sort of a subtle licorice-like flavor. And it's more of a hassle to get it to mix in liquid, than sugar. 

From Stevia Rebaudiana: Nature's Sweet Secret, Vital Health Publishing:


The FDA's position on Stevia is somewhat ambiguous. In 1991, citing a preliminary mutagenicity study, the FDA issued an import alert which effectively blocked the importation and sale of Stevia in this country. Ironically, this was the year that a follow-up study found flaws in the first study and seriously questioned its results.

In September of 1995, the FDA revised its import alert to allow Stevia and its extracts to be imported as a food supplement but not as a sweetener. Yet, it defines Stevia as an unapproved food additive, not affirmed as GRAS (Generally Recognized as Safe) in the United States. The following is a portion of this revised alert:

"If Stevia is to be used in a dietary supplement for a technical effect, such as use as a sweetener or flavoring agent, and is labeled as such, it is considered an unsafe food additive. However, in the absence of labeling specifying that stevia is being or will be used for technical effect, use of stevia as a dietary ingredient in a dietary supplement is not subject to the food additive provisions of FD & C ACT."

In our opinion, this revision represents a political compromise between the artificial sweetener and sugar lobbyists and the Natural Food Industry and its representatives, as mediated by the FDA.



subfever -> RE: Stevia & the FDA (5/7/2008 4:03:44 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: mistoferin

Well I certainly wouldn't feel more at ease if the FDA took any more control of things. They proved in all of the recent food crises and the pet food scare that they are about as useful as tits on a boar hog.

Interesting thing to note. It is illegal to get drugs from Canada and Mexico. My mom was just hospitalized because the antibiotics she was prescribed for an upper respiratory infection didn't work and made her sick as a dog. They were manufactured in CROATIA......perfectly legal and paid for by Blue Cross.


While this article is obviously dated, it helps the reader understand some of Stevia's uphill battles with the FDA. 



Evility -> RE: Stevia & the FDA (5/7/2008 5:16:59 PM)

I tried stevia but I didn't care for it. I love Splenda. It does taste just like sugar.



Irishknight -> RE: Stevia & the FDA (5/7/2008 5:32:59 PM)

I despise splenda.  It makes my wife's mouth go all tingly and then I have to listen to her complain.  We avoid anything that contains it.



heartcream -> RE: Stevia & the FDA (5/7/2008 7:36:31 PM)


quote:

Herbal remedies have been used for years but face it, these people aren't out to make you well - they're out to get your money.


There are plenty of folks out there who do give a shite about others, helping others, not about the money only. Nothing wrong with doing business. Yeah, use your common sense, use your instincts, do your research. I would any day use herbal supplements rather than chemical remedies if it can be avoided. I have a medical doctor who has heavy leanings on the alternative track. There is a pharmacy in this city where you can get natural supplements from a prescription from such a doctor as I have. I trust him, I trust that sort of pharmacy. Both of these, my doctor and this pharmacy is out to make me well. I dont mind paying for what I get.



subfever -> RE: Stevia & the FDA (5/7/2008 8:48:54 PM)

quote:


While this article is obviously dated, it helps the reader understand some of Stevia's uphill battles with the FDA.


Drat... I forgot to include the link. Oh well, while looking for it, I came across this one:

Let's be honest for a moment. There's no question that over the years I've tweaked the FDA, Canadian, and European regulators for some of the outrageously absurd positions they've taken when it comes to alternative health and supplements. Then again, I've also praised them on those occasions that I believe they've done the right thing. But of all their positions and all their calls, none brings their credibility more into question than their position regarding stevia.



subfever -> RE: Stevia & the FDA (5/9/2008 9:17:29 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: heartcream


quote:

Herbal remedies have been used for years but face it, these people aren't out to make you well - they're out to get your money.


There are plenty of folks out there who do give a shite about others, helping others, not about the money only. Nothing wrong with doing business. Yeah, use your common sense, use your instincts, do your research. I would any day use herbal supplements rather than chemical remedies if it can be avoided. I have a medical doctor who has heavy leanings on the alternative track. There is a pharmacy in this city where you can get natural supplements from a prescription from such a doctor as I have. I trust him, I trust that sort of pharmacy. Both of these, my doctor and this pharmacy is out to make me well. I dont mind paying for what I get.


You're right. If people look hard enough, they'll find alternative practitioners working along with conventional doctors who have alternative outlooks on medicine. They're few and far-between, but they do exist.

I'm glad to have conventional medicine at my disposal in the event of a catastrophic injury or failure. I'd certainly want them to use any measure to save my life and put my body back together. But for any other problem, I'd prefer alternative medicine to seek the cause of what ails me, instead of using conventional medicine to treat symptoms.

But don't expect insurance to cover any alternative treatment. Expect to pay cash.

I see a growing, unserved market here.



DomKen -> RE: Stevia & the FDA (5/9/2008 9:33:25 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: subfever
I'm glad to have conventional medicine at my disposal in the event of a catastrophic injury or failure. I'd certainly want them to use any measure to save my life and put my body back together. But for any other problem, I'd prefer alternative medicine to seek the cause of what ails me, instead of using conventional medicine to treat symptoms.

Now that's funny. Sad and telling but funny too. I'm guessing you don't even see the hypocrisy of that statement.



FangsNfeet -> RE: Stevia & the FDA (5/10/2008 12:01:40 AM)

Stevia has always been to strong for me. I perfer Xylotol instead.

Anyways, let's not get me started on what I really think of the FDA and the bribes/payoffs they take along with the politicians who have there investments.

I don't like stevia but I'd take it over any artificial sweetener that's fully aproved and endorsed by the FDA. You'll never see me fooling around with that splenda crap.



subfever -> RE: Stevia & the FDA (5/10/2008 8:14:55 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: DomKen

quote:

ORIGINAL: subfever
I'm glad to have conventional medicine at my disposal in the event of a catastrophic injury or failure. I'd certainly want them to use any measure to save my life and put my body back together. But for any other problem, I'd prefer alternative medicine to seek the cause of what ails me, instead of using conventional medicine to treat symptoms.

Now that's funny. Sad and telling but funny too. I'm guessing you don't even see the hypocrisy of that statement.


I'm simply acknowledging the fact that conventional medicine, and treating symptoms, have their time and place in situations like injuries, heart attacks, and other life-threatening catastrophics.   



subfever -> RE: Stevia & the FDA (5/10/2008 8:22:33 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: FangsNfeet

Stevia has always been to strong for me. I perfer Xylotol instead.

Anyways, let's not get me started on what I really think of the FDA and the bribes/payoffs they take along with the politicians who have there investments.

I don't like stevia but I'd take it over any artificial sweetener that's fully aproved and endorsed by the FDA. You'll never see me fooling around with that splenda crap.



Though I find the flavor of Stevia tolerable, it's not my favorite. And you're right, it's easy to over-sweeten with Stevia, due to it's strength. But like you, I'll take Stevia over any artificial sweetener, any day.




DomKen -> RE: Stevia & the FDA (5/10/2008 8:32:25 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: subfever

quote:

ORIGINAL: DomKen

quote:

ORIGINAL: subfever
I'm glad to have conventional medicine at my disposal in the event of a catastrophic injury or failure. I'd certainly want them to use any measure to save my life and put my body back together. But for any other problem, I'd prefer alternative medicine to seek the cause of what ails me, instead of using conventional medicine to treat symptoms.

Now that's funny. Sad and telling but funny too. I'm guessing you don't even see the hypocrisy of that statement.


I'm simply acknowledging the fact that conventional medicine, and treating symptoms, have their time and place in situations like injuries, heart attacks, and other life-threatening catastrophics.   


So when the rubber meets the road you know what works and want that. The rest of the time the BS you believe in despite the evidence is what makes you feel warm and fuzzy. I completely understood you the first time. I just find your cognitive dissonance on this subject telling. Absurd and hypocritical but telling.



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