Nexus - 1002 - New Times Magazine-pages

Page Content (OCR)

The Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation _ betes in Australia and abroad" grows. It is also suggested that (RIRDC) was set up by the Australian government "to work stevia could be marketed "in conjunction with sugar" to pro- closely with Australian rural industries on the organisation and duce low-calorie products. funding of their R&D needs". Professor David Midmore and However, input from other organisations and agencies will Andrew Rank put together a report for RIRDC in 2002 on the be required to ascertain if "the constraints to production and possibility of "A new rural industry—Stevia—to replace acceptance of steviosides will be manageable in the near (2- imported chemical sweeteners". The study was jointly funded 3-year) future". by RIRDC and Central Queensland University. Currently there is an application with FSANZ for considera- The report refers to Canadian researchers’ findings that 50 tion of stevia as a sweetener, and according to Professor hectares of stevia could produce sweetener equivalent to one Midmore a decision "should be announced by FSANZ in a million dollars' worth of sugar. This "in Australia would short while". A possible obstacle to the FSANZ acceptance of require 240 hectares of cane to grow, i.e., productivity in terms stevia could be the same concern expressed by JECFA: that of sweetness equivalent per hectare is the breakdown of stevioside into ste- high". It notes it will be necessary to viol can exhibit some toxic and "develop production and processing mutagenic activity. However, practices that result in acceptable The report refers to Canadian David Midmore stresses that "such financial returns to growers" yet a researchers’ findings that breakdown is not known to happen competitively priced end-product. . in situ in the human body". Environmental considerations are 50 hectares of stevia industry ina dry continent like | COUId produce sweetener * Stevia has hada long history of Australia. Primary producers could equivalent to one million use as a natural sweetener and a benefit because the crop would offer dollars’ worth of sugar. medicinal aid. It is heat stable, non- greater diversification opportunity caloric and can be used by diabetics. and returns per megalitre of irrigation However, the US FDA has had a water". Insects do not appear to be of questionable relationship with the concern to stevia. There are some pos- herb, and issues have been raised sible diseases "which do not appear to be a major problem", over the safety of the stevioside extract. Yet, no adverse according to the report, and "spraying for control is sometimes health effects have ever been reported or documented, includ- undertaken". ing in Asia where the herb is used extensively as a sweetener. David Midmore says that Australia is ready for stevia. "The Stevia shows great potential for the future, in agriculture and time is right for large-scale production, provided we can as a food. ro ensure that production practices are suitable (e.g., mechanical harvesting) and that it will be grown in the correct locations About the Author: (weather-wise)." Jenny Hawke has a Bachelor of Arts in Communication According to the report, it is expected that "consumer _ and is on staff at the NEXUS head office in Australia. Her demand for natural sweeteners will escalate" as Australians article, "Uncovering the Facts on Toxic Carpet", was pub- become more health conscious and as "the incidence of dia- lished in NEXUS 9/06. researchers’ findings that 50 hectares of stevia could produce sweetener equivalent to one million dollars’ worth of sugar. About the Author: Jenny Hawke has a Bachelor of Arts in Communication and is on staff at the NEXUS head office in Australia. Her article, "Uncovering the Facts on Toxic Carpet", was pub- lished in NEXUS 9/06. References be Legal?", Herb Research Foundation, at —_int/comm/dg24/health/sc/scf/out34_en.pdf ¢ Brandle, J.E., Starratt A.N. and Gijzen /www.holisticmed.com/sweet/stvfaq.txt, ¢ "Stevia", Producer: Richard Wright, at M., "Stevia rebaudiana: Its biological, downloaded 4 October 2002 http://cbc.ca/ consumers/market/files/food/ chemical and agricultural properties", * Midmore, D.J. and Rank, A.H.,"A new _ stevia/index.html, broadcast 29 Feb 2000 Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, at tural industry — Stevia — to replace * Stevia.net, "The FDA & Stevia", at http://res2.agr.ca/london/pmrc/english/faq/ imported chemical sweeteners", Report for _ http://www.stevia.net/fda.htm, downloaded stevia-rev.html, last modified 12 Nov 2002 the Rural Industries Research and 4 October 2002 ¢ Department of Health & Human Development Corporation, August 2002 * Stevia.net, "Varieties of Stevia", at http:// Services, Food and Drug Administration, ¢ Pan H., "Safety of Stevioside Debated", www.stevia.net/varieties.htm, downloaded 1998-1999 correspondence regarding Shanghai Star, at http://www.chinadaily, | 20 November 2002 Stevita Company's use of stevia, at com.cn/star/2002/0328/fo7-1.html, 28 * The Week Online with DRCNet, "FDA http://www.fda.gov/ohrms/dockets/dailys/ | March 2002 Orders Books Destroyed", Refuse & 041699/m000001 .pdf * "Risk in Brief", no. 10, "Stevioside in Resist!, issue #48, 2 July 1998, at * Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Foods", Hong Kong Government, Risk http://www.refuseandresist.org/resist_this/ Food Additives (JECFA) Evaluation Assessment Section, http://www.info.gov. _ 070398fdasweet.html, posted 3 July 1998 Report on Stevioside, Extracted from k/fehd/textmode/safefood/report/ * Whitaker J., "The Nefarious FDA Strikes WHO Technical Report Series 891, June _stevioside/stevioside.html, updated July Again", Free American, April 1999 2000, "Sweetening agent: stevioside", at 2002 http://www.info.gov.hk/fehd/textmode/safe _* Scientific Committee on Food, "Opinion _ Editor's Note: food/report/stevioside/who.html on Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni plants and Due to space constraints, we are unable * Legislative Council Secretariat, "Fact leaves" (adopted on 17 June 1999), at to print all the references for this article. Sheet: Stevioside", Hong Kong http://www.europa.eu.int/comm/dg24/ If you would like a copy of the complete Government, at http://www.legco.gov.hk/ _ health/sc/scf/out36_en.pdf list, you can download it from our yr01-02/english/sec/library/0102fs04e.pdf, —* Scientific Committee on Food, "Opinion website at htto:/Awww.nexusmagazine. prepared by Simon Li, 27 March 2002 on Stevioside as a Sweetener" (adopted on Com, or request a copy from your nearest ¢ McCaleb R., "Stevia Leaf: Too Good to 7 June 1999), at http://www.europa.eu. NEXUS Office. 28 = NEXUS The report refers to Canadian www.nexusmagazine.com FEBRUARY — MARCH 2003