I found this news report to be surprising. The two big soda companies will be using stevia in new diet beverages. As much as I have tried, I have never liked the taste of stevia. I’m just not a fan. And in general, I do not think that I am alone.
The press release says:
Coca-Cola and PepsiCo are set to launch the first diet drinks sweetened with stevia that have the FDA’s blessing — or at least, its lack of objections. Stevia is a shrub native to South America. Until recently, the FDA only allowed sweeteners made from stevia to be sold as dietary supplements, and not as food additives.But now, the FDA has indicated that it has no objection to two stevia products — Truvia and PureVia — being used as food additives.
source: http://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/news/20081218/stevia-diet-drinks-coming-to-market