PureCircle, a developer and producer of Rebaudioside A (Reb A), announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a no objection letter. The letter states that Reb A, the sweetener made from stevia leaves, is Generally Recognized As Safe (GRAS) at 95% purity or above. Stevia may be used not only as a supplement, but as a sweetener in food and beverage applications. An abundance of new products containing stevia are expected to appear in 2009. Stevia is an all-natural, calorie-free herb native to Paraguay, according towww.stevia.net.