Confusion or fraud? Labeling of Stevia Sweeteners

Authors

  • Fiorella Geraldine Olazar
  • Eduardo Ramón Ferreira
  • Victoria Valdovinos
  • Sacchio Kanasawa
  • Ingrid Micaela Barua Stock
  • Nidia Benítez Candia
  • Danilo Fernández Ríos
  • Andrea Alejandra Arrua

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.46932/sfjdv3n2-053

Keywords:

sweetener, fraud, health

Abstract

Fraudulent labeling is an emerging problem in the food industry worldwide. Many Stevia sweeteners are marketed in Paraguay, and their labels can be confusing. For this reason, 21 packs of sweetener products were analyzed regarding their degree of compliance with the labeling regulations in force in the country. All of the analyzed containers complied with the MERCOSUR regulations on food labeling, and 95.2% complied with MERCOSUR regulations on nutritional labeling. Over half of the containers did not comply with the local regulation for the naming of Stevia products. This is the first study on possible fraudulent labeling carried out in Paraguay, and it highlights the need to monitor compliance of food labeling regulations in the country.

Published

2022-03-29

How to Cite

Olazar, F. G. ., Ferreira, E. R. ., Valdovinos, V. ., Kanasawa, S. ., Stock, I. M. B. ., Candia, N. B. ., Ríos, D. F. ., & Arrua, A. A. . (2022). Confusion or fraud? Labeling of Stevia Sweeteners. South Florida Journal of Development, 3(2), 2264–2278. https://doi.org/10.46932/sfjdv3n2-053