Notice of Modification to the List of Permitted Sweeteners  to Enable the Use of Steviol Glycosides as a  
Sweetener in Meal Replacement Bars  
  
Bureau of Chemical Safety, Food Directorate, Health Products and Food Branch     1 
  
Notice of Modification to the List of Permitted 
Sweeteners  to Enable the Use of Steviol Glycosides as 
a Sweetener in Meal Replacement Bars  
 
Notice of Modification – Lists of Permitted Food Additives  
Reference Number: [NOM/ADM -0022 ] 
 
 
 January 14, 201 4  
Notice of Modification to the List of Permitted Sweeteners  to Enable the Use of Steviol Glycosides as a  
Sweetener in Meal Replacement Bars  
  
Bureau of Chemical Safety, Food Directorate, Health Products and Food Branch     2 Summary  
 
Food additives are regulated in Canada under Marketing Authorizations  (MAs) issued by the 
Minister of Health and the Food and Drug Regulations.  Approved food additives and their 
permitted conditions of use are set out in the Lists of Permitted Food Add itives  that are 
incorporated by reference in the MAs.  A petitioner can request that Health Canada approve a 
new additive or a new condition of use for an already approved food additive by filing a food 
additive submission with the Department's Food Direct orate.  Health Canada uses this premarket 
approval process to determine whether the scientific data support the safety of food additives 
when used under specified conditions in foods sold in Canada.  
 
Health Canada received a food additive submission seeking approval for the use of steviol 
glycosides as a sweetener at a maximum level of use of 0.02%, calculated as steviol equivalents, 
in meal replacement bars.  
 
Steviol glycosides is already permitted for use in Canada as a sweetener in various 
unstanda rdized foods.   
 
The results of Health Canada’s evaluation of available scientific data support the safety of steviol 
glycosides when used as set out in the table below.  Therefore, Health Canada has modified the 
List of Permitted Sweeteners  to extend the use of steviol glycosides by adding the entry shown 
below to the list.  
 
Modification to the List of Permitted Sweeteners  
 
Item 
No. Column 1  
Additive  Column 2  
Permitted in or 
upon  Column 3  
Maximum Level of Use and Other 
Conditions  
S.1.2  Steviol 
Glycosides  (8) Meal replacement 
bars 
 (8) 0.02% (calculated as steviol 
equivalents)  
 
 
Rationale  
 
Health Canada’s Food Directorate completed a pre -market safety assessment of steviol 
glycosides.  The assessment considered microbiological, toxicological, nutritional and chemical 
aspects of steviol glycosides when used as requested in the food additive s ubmission.     
 
Based on the results of the safety assessment, Health Canada’s Food Directorate considers that 
the data support the safety of steviol glycosides when used under the conditions of use set out in 
the table above.  The Department has therefore  enabled the use of steviol glycosides as described 
in the table.  
  
Notice of Modification to the List of Permitted Sweeteners  to Enable the Use of Steviol Glycosides as a  
Sweetener in Meal Replacement Bars  
  
Bureau of Chemical Safety, Food Directorate, Health Products and Food Branch     3 Implementation and Enforcement  
 
The above modification came into force January 14, 201 4, the day it was published in the List of 
Permitted Sweeteners . 
 
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency is responsible for the enforcement of the Food and Drugs 
Act and its associated regulations with  respect to foods.  
 
Contact Information  
 
Health Canada's Food Directorate is committed to reviewing any new scientific information on 
the safety in use of any food additive, including steviol glycosides. Anyone wishing to submit 
new scientific information  on the use of this additive or to submit any inquiries may do so in 
writing, by regular mail or electronically. If you wish to contact the Food Directorate 
electronically, please use the words " steviol glycosides in meal replacement bars " in the 
subject l ine of your e -mail.  
 
Bureau of Chemical Safety , Food Directorate  
251 Sir Frederick Banting Driveway  
Tunney’s Pasture, PL: 2202C  
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0L2  
E-mail:  bcs-bipc@hc -sc.gc.ca