E960

E960 is the European Union designation for steviol glycosides, a family of high-intensity sweeteners derived from the leaves of Stevia rebaudiana. The commercial product is a purified extract that typically contains mainly rebaudioside A and stevioside, along with smaller amounts of other steviol glycosides. These compounds are intensely sweet and provide virtually no calories.

Steviol glycosides are used as non-nutritive sweeteners in a wide range of foods and beverages. They are known for their high sweetness potency, heat stability, and compatibility with many formulating processes. Depending on the glycoside profile, blends are used to balance sweetness and reduce any lingering aftertaste.

Regulatory status and safety assessments: In the European Union, steviol glycosides have been approved as a food additive and are assigned the designation E960. Safety evaluations by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) concluded no safety concerns at current use levels. An acceptable daily intake (ADI) of 4 mg per kilogram of body weight per day, expressed as steviol equivalents, is established. Use levels and permitted food categories are defined by EU regulations, and products containing E960 must be labeled accordingly.

Manufacture and composition: Steviol glycosides are extracted and purified from Stevia leaves, often through water or ethanol extraction followed by selective purification. The resulting ingredient is a mixture of glycosides whose exact composition can vary by source and processing, but the primary components remain rebaudioside A and stevioside.

See also: EU food additives, stevia.