I remember following the progress of stevia since the mid-1970s (Chemical & Engineering News). In fact, I may still have the article from that time. I use stevia, but you are correct; it can have a bitter aftertaste. If Galam has surmounted this problem, there is a huge boon for all diabetics and others who should avoid sugar! Let's see how the Israel-bashers can justify a boycott of this advance in food chemistry! It would take some really twisted logic.

Leave my sugar Coke alone! I don't care if they use this in Diet Coke or whatever else but one of the small but great things about Israel over the US is Coke made from plain old cane sugar instead of disgusting, cloying High Fructose Corn Syrup.

Not sure what all the hype is about. Stevia has been around for a very long time and a company that is based on the TSX exchange called GLG out of Vancouver has been producing Stevia and selling it packaged to every grocery store chain and pharmacy in Canada.They are the true leaders of the industry for many years and have now gone into huge growing plantations in China investing millions and millions of dollars as well they have sold the rights to Stevia to Coca Cola and it is already being produced and sold on the market as Sprite Green. Sounds like Israel is a little behind on Stevia I would say about 5 years.By the way I own the stock and it has done very well.

If they have succeeded in getting rid of stevia's aritifical sweetner aftertaste (like with cyclamates) then they should receive the nobel prize for this! Stevia can also be used in cooking and baking!! When will this be available as an item on our grocery shelves?? Everyone should eat less white sugar, not only diabetics.

I can't take any cola drinks without severe personal physical penalty, but I do like sodas as drink set-ups. I found Jones sodas (10 for $10 at Giant Food). Those use sugar for sweetener, and some are fruit or vanilla bean only and use no sweetener whatever (they go under name of "Zilch"). Jones's cream soda is great in a vanilla egg cream, which is vodka and Jones's cream (vanilla) soda over ice. Enjoy!

where is all this available in israel? you write as if we all know what you r talking about....just tell me where to buy jones's cream soda...dont know who that is but i like cream soda and if its available in israel great if not i will stick to black beer

and only reacted to selected parts of it. "There are large companies that produce sweeteners from the plant, but the problem is the bitterness," said Galam Chairman of the Board Danny Biran. "Sugar is added to the sweetener sold to the consumer in the little packets, it's written in the fine print." According to Galam CEO Yossi Peled, the company has achieved a breakthrough that will help replace the sugars accompanying the stevia-derived product, and adapt the sweetener to the soft drinks industry". Why did you post without properly reading the article?

Stevia sweeteners may cause some drop in the level of testosterone in blood tests. This may not be sufficient to cause worry in the case of young healthy people whose testosreone levels are relatively high unless they are concerned with their libido. However in the case of the older folks whose testosterone levels often decline with age to abnormally low level, the negative impact of stevia on health could be more significant since low testosterone has been associated with a number of serious diseases such as Alzheimer, vascular diseases... http://www.drmirkin.com/men/M169.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/10/101005171202.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/10/101019212921.htm The new product should be tested on lab animals & then on humans to find out if it is safe for everyone or if a warning should be printed on the package containing it.

I read the article and understood everything that was stated. GLG has already patened a way to take the bitterness out of the product and is producing Stevia with no sugar additive and supplying it to all stores and if you read my article they have given the rights to Coca Cola to use their product which is already out and being consumed by the public. The break through that you mention has already been achieved. I suggest you google GLG and find out what they have achieved as well google the soft dring Sprite Green and educate yourself before accusing people of skimming on an article