FDA Status
GRAS
Sweetener · CAS 57817-89-7 · EU E960
Stevia (Steviol Glycosides)
FDA status: GRAS. EU: Approved. No U.S. state has enacted a specific ban yet.
5.0 / 5
Composite safety Generally Safe
Score 5 of 5
Stevia (Steviol Glycosides): 5/5 (Generally Safe)
According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Stevia (Steviol Glycosides) is classified GRAS by the FDA, and no U.S. state has moved to restrict it independently of federal policy. Its composite safety score is 5 out of 5 (Generally Safe), and the European Union separately classifies it as approved.
The verdict
Stevia (Steviol Glycosides) is classified GRAS by the FDA, and no U.S. state has moved to restrict it.
- 5/5
- Generally Safe
- GRAS
- FDA status
- Approved
- EU status
- 0
- state regulations
Stevia (Steviol Glycosides) (E960), CAS 57817-89-7, is a sweetener additive holding a composite safety score of 5 out of 5 (Generally Safe). According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's Substances Added to Food inventory, it is currently classified as GRAS, while the European Union lists it as Approved. It is most commonly used as Beverages, yogurt, baked goods, tabletop sweeteners.
No U.S. state has enacted specific legislation targeting Stevia (Steviol Glycosides) to date, keeping federal FDA classification as the operative standard. State-level food safety legislation remains active nationally, and that picture may shift as new bills advance.
Peer-reviewed research has flagged 1 distinct area of health concern for Stevia (Steviol Glycosides), which factors directly into the assigned safety score. The European Food Safety Authority has published an evaluation dated 2015-06-30, with an Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI) of 4. EFSA has noted an overexposure risk classification of "moderate" for typical consumption patterns. All figures above draw on FDA SAFFA inventory records, EU food additive regulation (EC) No 1333/2008, EFSA scientific opinions where published, and legislative records from individual U.S. states.
Regulatory Snapshot
| Property | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| FDA Status | GRAS | FDA SAFFA |
| EU Status | Approved | EC 1333/2008 |
| E-Number | E960 | EU additive register |
| CAS Number | 57817-89-7 | CAS Registry |
| Category | Sweetener | FDA functional class |
| Composite Safety Score | 5 / 5 (Generally Safe) | PlainIngredients methodology |
| EFSA ADI | 4 | EFSA scientific opinion |
| U.S. State Actions | 0 states | State legislative records |
| Tracked Products | Not yet tracked | Open Food Facts (US) |
Values reflect official agency classifications as published by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the European Union's regulatory framework. See our methodology for scoring details.
EU Status
Approved
E960
U.S. State Regulations
0 states
None enacted
Safety Assessment
Stevia (Steviol Glycosides)'s 5/5 (Generally Safe) score reflects where this specific ingredient lands on that scale. The FDA classifies Stevia (Steviol Glycosides) as "Generally Recognized As Safe" (GRAS), meaning qualified experts consider it safe under intended conditions of use.
Research has identified 1 area of health concern associated with Stevia (Steviol Glycosides). Consumers with specific health conditions should consult a healthcare provider before consuming products containing this ingredient.
How Stevia (Steviol Glycosides) compares
Where a safety score of 5/5 falls among all 4,509 scored ingredients tracked on PlainIngredients.
Ingredients by safety score (Stevia (Steviol Glycosides) highlighted)
31 of 4,509 scored ingredients (0.7%) share a safety score of 5/5.
What is Stevia (Steviol Glycosides)?
Natural sweetener from the Stevia plant. 200-300x sweeter than sugar.
Health Concerns
- Generally considered safe.
Common Uses
Beverages, yogurt, baked goods, tabletop sweeteners
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Stevia (Steviol Glycosides) safe to consume?
Stevia (Steviol Glycosides) has a safety score of 5/5 (Generally Safe). It is approved by the FDA for use in food. As with all food additives, moderation is advisable.
What is Stevia (Steviol Glycosides) used for in food?
Stevia (Steviol Glycosides) is commonly used as: Beverages, yogurt, baked goods, tabletop sweeteners. It belongs to the Sweetener category of food additives.
Is Stevia (Steviol Glycosides) banned in any US states?
Currently, no US states have enacted specific bans or regulations targeting Stevia (Steviol Glycosides). However, state food safety legislation is evolving rapidly.
What is the difference between FDA and EU regulation of Stevia (Steviol Glycosides)?
The FDA classifies Stevia (Steviol Glycosides) as "GRAS", while the EU status is "Approved" (E960). The FDA and EU use separate evaluation frameworks, the EU often applies the precautionary principle, sometimes banning additives that remain approved in the US. Always check both jurisdictions when evaluating food additive safety.
What health concerns are associated with Stevia (Steviol Glycosides)?
Research has identified the following health concerns for Stevia (Steviol Glycosides): Generally considered safe.. These findings inform its safety score of 5/5. Consult a healthcare provider for personalized guidance, especially if you have pre-existing conditions.
How is the safety score for Stevia (Steviol Glycosides) calculated?
The safety score of 5/5 for Stevia (Steviol Glycosides) is a composite assessment based on FDA regulatory status, EU approval status, published scientific research on health effects, and state-level legislative actions. A score of 1 means "Banned / Avoid" and 5 means "Generally Safe." The score is updated as new regulatory actions or scientific evidence emerge.
Data Sources
- FDA Substances Added to Food (SAFFA) Inventory
- EU Food Additive Regulations (EC) No 1333/2008
- State food safety legislation and bill records
Related Sweetener Ingredients
What to do about Stevia (Steviol Glycosides)
Use the regulatory picture, not a single score, to decide.
- Check the FDA status (GRAS) and EU status (Approved) before assuming it is risk-free. How we score
- Compare it against the most-restricted additives in the U.S. supply. View rankings
- Scan a whole ingredient label at once to flag the concerning entries. Label checker
Safety scores summarise regulatory status and published concerns; they are not medical or dietary advice.
Every figure on PlainIngredients is rendered directly from FDA, EU, EFSA and U.S. state regulatory records, no number is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.