Steviol glycosides (E960)

Steviol glycosides (E960) is one of the markers Open Food Facts uses to classify a food as ultra-processed (NOVA group 4).

What it is and why it counts

Steviol glycosides are sweet compounds extracted and purified from the leaves of the stevia plant.

Cosmetic additives

NOVA calls these additives "cosmetic": they change how a product looks, feels or tastes rather than keeping it safe to eat. Their presence is one of the two defining signs of an ultra-processed food.

Function

Sweetener: Sweeteners are substances used to impart a sweet taste to foods or in table-top sweeteners.

Functional class definitions from the EU food additives regulation, via Open Food Facts.

More about steviol glycosides (E960) on Wikidata

Where it turns up

Steviol glycosides (E960) appears in 413 of the 40,000 products on this site (1%).

Protein bars 31 of 426 products
Protein powders 23 of 149 products
Kombuchas 21 of 96 products
Greek-style yogurts 18 of 359 products
Sodas 18 of 612 products
Dietary supplements 13 of 1,145 products

Products containing steviol glycosides (E960)

Showing the 60 most popular of 413.

How the NOVA classification works