Steviol glycosides are the chemical compounds responsible for the sweet taste of the leaves of the South American plant Stevia rebaudiana (Asteraceae), and the main ingredients (or precursors) of many sweeteners marketed under the generic name stevia and several trade names.
Rebaudioside A is one of the many steviol glycosides in the leaves of the stevia plant that provides sweetness. It is Generally Recognized As Safe (GRAS) for use as a general purpose sweetener in the U.S. so may be used in foods and beverages, excluding meat and poultry products. FDA has now stated that a number of steviol glycosides may be used as general purpose sweeteners in the U.S. In Canada, stevia is sold as a natural health product. Stevia and steviol glycosides have a long history of use in several countries, including Japan and Paraguay. Stevia sweeteners are approved for use in many other countries including Korea, Taiwan, China, Russia, Switzerland, Australia, Argentina, New Zealand, Mexico, Colombia, Peru, Uruguay, Brazil, Chile and Malaysia Yes, stevia extracts (the short name for steviol glycosides) are the sweet compounds found in the leaves of the stevia plant, which is a small herb native to South America.  Molecular structure of stevioside. Steviol glycosides are the chemical compounds responsible for the sweet taste of the leaves of the South American plant Stevia rebaudiana (Asteraceae), and the main ingredients (or precursors) of many sweeteners marketed under the generic name stevia and several trade names. The acceptable daily intake (ADI) for steviol glycosides, expressed as steviol equivalents, has been established to be 4 mg/kg body weight/day. Marketed as a natural sweetener, manufacturers hope steviol glycosides will appeal to consumers looking for a healthier alternative to sugar. The plant extract – which is 200 to 300 times sweeter than sugar and is also calorie-free – has been used as a sweetener for many years in Asia and South America. Stevia-based sweeteners are purified extracts from the leaves of the stevia plant, called steviol glycosides, which is native to Paraguay. Steviol glycosides are found in the leaves of the stevia plant. They have particular taste profiles and intense sweetness. Steviol glycosides can be isolated and purified from the leaves of the stevia plant and are approved for use in countries including Australia, Brazil, China, Japan, Korea, New Zealand and Paraguay. Subsequent to the extraction and purification process, the steviol glycosides are equal to those found in the stevia leaf, that is, they are molecularly identical. The process simply gives purified stevia leaf extract a cleaner, more sugar-like taste than crude stevia extracts. Steviol glycosides. Steviol glycosides are high intensity sweeteners, 250-300 times sweeter than sucrose. They are isolated and purified from the leaves of the stevia plant (Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni), where it is present at levels up to 13%.  Steviol glycosides are found in the leaves of the stevia plant and each has a particular taste profile and sweetness intensity. Steviol glycosides can be isolated from the leaves of the stevia plant and have now been added to some foods, for example beverages and tabletop sweeteners in the U.S. and elsewhere. FDA has now stated that a number of steviol glycosides may be used as general purpose sweeteners in the U.S. In Canada, stevia is sold as a natural health product. Stevia and steviol glycosides have a long history of use in several countries, including Japan and Paraguay. Stevia sweeteners are approved for use in many other countries including Korea, Taiwan, China, Russia, Switzerland, Australia, Argentina, New Zealand, Mexico, Colombia, Peru, Uruguay, Brazil, Chile and Malaysia Steviol glycosides from Stevia rebaudiana have been reported to be between 30 and 320 times sweeter than sucrose, although there is some disagreement in the technical literature about these numbers. They are heat-stable, pH-stable, and do not ferment. The acceptable daily intake (ADI) for steviol glycosides, expressed as steviol equivalents, has been established to be 4 mg/kg body weight/day.
http://caloriecontrol.org/sweet-facts-about-stevia/ http://www.internationalsteviacouncil.org/index.php?id=30 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steviol_glycoside http://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/Goodfood/Pages/are-stevia-plant-extracts-safe.aspx http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/287251.php https://www.food.gov.uk/science/additives/stevia http://caloriecontrol.org/sweet-facts-about-stevia/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steviol_glycoside
what is steviol glycosides