Is there some sort of strange conspiracy or political hold on the FDA??

Ive just became a health junkie after getting rid of processed junk and eating as healthy as i can, and i came across something at Whole Foods called stevia, a natural sweetener, that WASNT in the food isle, but in the supplements isle. So i decide to look this stuff up and theres all this controversy over it being banned for no reason in the late 80s, some say because the big business guys in processed chemical foods wanted it gone. Ive read this sweetener has healthy properties for diabetics and yet it was banned for quite some time and even now, CANNOT be sold as a food additive. If something as simple as a natural sweetener was banned, what else do we not know about?? Some studies say it has bad benefits in extremely large(who eats a tub full of sugar to begin with?) doses but what about all the drugs doctors prescribe for diabetic CONTROL and not tell you about natural stuff that would PREVENT such diseases? Makes me want to pursue a career in natural medicine and holistic care!!

I want to encourage you to pursue your dream. Yes, stevia is a healthy alternative to sugar and it should not be with the supplements,only. It should be in the food aisles. I believe that diabetic drugs, just make it possible to keep sugar in your diet. This is a good way to keep sugar companies in business...it is all business.Here is another food that should have been included in the human diet to prevent many ailments, inflamation, disease etc.But it was demonized instead and many people believe that it is harmful.

It is a controlled aspect of our consumption-the FDA that is. However, look at what the FDA has approved, with warnings, and the same-what people have died from avoiding those warnings. It's a sad "why should I be punished for their stupidity" game, however, it happens.

Most non-FDA approved drugs and or supplements are sold as Dietary Supplements, working or not-with complications or not.

Try going here for more information about your inquires...and you can buy it legally still fyi

Wow! I know that there are tons of natural supplements and remedies out there that the FDA has not approved, but I had never heard of anything like this before. I guess they want us to keep on killing ourselves with processed foods and high fructose corn syrup!

your right,I believe there are natural cures for some diseases but drug makers will lose alot of $$$$$$$.
The FDA has a cut of the pie too.It's unfortunate that it's about the almighty dollar !

Sorry,but stevia products can be sold as dietary supplements.You can find them in the health-food stores. http://www.stevia.net/
Also,I don't think that it's just the med-giants that make money out of this story.It's the sugar industry and so on.
These are the rules of free market ...if you re good,healthy and cheap as a food-product what the fck are you doing in the supermarket ? Once, I read that if you die ill and younger you 're cheaper and more "useful" for the society (the big food-smoke-health industry) than living till you get old,still being healthy, and someday you die just because it hapenned.