Look for another option in low-calorie beverages now that the US Food and Drug Administration has okayed EverSweet. The agency issued a GRAS (Generally Recognized As Safe) “no-objections” letter allowing maker Cargill to introduce the sweetener. The “next-generation” product is similar to sweeteners made from stevia, but is produced by fermentation of baker’s yeast rather than from the plant leaf. Said to be ideal for use in sodas, especially colas, EverSweet promises sugar-like taste without a bitter aftertaste. Cargill and partner Evolva have not yet set a commercial release date, however.
