Can it be true that Coca-Cola is producing a version of their soft drink that uses the safe and natural herb Stevia for a sweetener instead of dangerous chemicals or corn syrup? According to some news reports, Coca Cola, along with Cargill, is doing just that, although it will rename the Stevia as an ingredient called Rebiana.
This is fantastic news, although ironic in the extreme that a company so identified with high sugar diets, obesity, and chemical sweeteners is now embracing the herbal supplements that can deliver sweetness without compromising our health. The sceptic in me wonders if the "rebiana" will be a bastardized version of Stevia, or if Coca Cola is truly offering a healthy alternative.
This is a news story worth watching, with social and health ramifications as huge as that of Walmart offering organic alternatives in their product line. Of course, Coke and Cargill will want us to believe they "discovered" Rebiana while the media ignored and suppressed information and access to Stevia in years past. Let's just hope that the socially progressive natural foods producers who have offered Stevia during the past decade will survive the competition and find new ways to thrive and expand their business in the future.
Very interesting. I would love to see a product like this because I'm a pretty bad Diet Coke addict, and I'm sure it can't be that healthy.
Posted by: Kalyn | June 08, 2007 at 12:17 PM
If you like the idea please true Zevia. ww.zevia.com Nature's Answer to Diet Soda. All Natural, Sugar Free & Available Today. Better Yet - Request your locAL STORE TO Carry it!
Posted by: Ian | June 09, 2007 at 08:29 AM
There is a company called Sunwin USA (SUWN) that is the largest producer/grower of the stevia plant and in fact there 'sweetner' OnlySweet is now available in Kroger affiliated stores (Smith's here in Vegas). It is little sweetnlow type packets and comes in 100 count boxes. The stevia product of onlysweet is DIABETIC FRIENDLY according to there studies and does not negatively affect the glucose level of diabetics. The FDA should allow the reclassification of stevia to a sweetner -- many many people will benefit from the natural nature of this product. Take a look at the onlysweet.com website - it's quite encouraging.
Posted by: Brian | November 13, 2007 at 05:18 PM
I would be less than surprised to find, if Coca-Cola did release a product with Stevia, that said product would also contain some artificial sweetener such as Neotame or Splenda, thereby nullifying the whole point of using Stevia! I'd like my cynical skepticism to be proven wrong...
Posted by: Lynx | November 23, 2007 at 12:41 AM
Well, it's about TIME...and as far as I'm concerned everyone eles in the junk-food and processed food/beverage industry better follow suite as I've given up eating and drinking that kind of garbage due to health issues of inflammatory bowel disease which wouldn't surprise me if it stemmed from the above mentioned garbage...I now eat only whole natural foods and drink water and the results on my disease confirm that if you eat junk you become junk.
Posted by: Kathi | June 08, 2008 at 04:28 PM