Classified as processed fruit-vegetable product, not a new crop variety

Softens faster than regular tomatoes due to processing

WHO cautions against long-term, excessive sweetener intake

[123RF]
[123RF]

"Aren't stevia tomatoes a new variety? I don't usually eat tomatoes, but these were so sweet I started buying them all the time." — a worker in her 40s surnamed Jeong

Some vendors selling stevia tomatoes have been caught running misleading advertisements, with labels such as "new variety" drawing scrutiny from regulators. Consumers who bought the product believing it was a newly bred tomato cultivar say they feel misled.

Stevia tomatoes have been popular for their intense sweetness and low calorie count, making them a go-to item for people on diet plans. Their availability in single-serving cups at convenience stores made them even more accessible.

The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety recently flagged 15 online vendors for deceptive advertising, citing the use of terms such as "stevia farming method" and "new variety" in their promotional materials.

Stevia tomatoes are not classified as an agricultural product, because the sweetness does not develop naturally during cultivation.

"Stevia tomatoes currently sold on the market are not agricultural products grown through a new breeding method or a different farming technique," said Im Dong-chun, an official at the ministry's Emergency Response Team on Illegal Food Practices.

The product is made by injecting cherry tomatoes — after washing — with a soaking solution containing food additives such as enzyme-treated steviol glycosides and sucralose, using pressurized or vacuum methods. The tomatoes are then washed and dried again, placing them in the category of processed food. Under the ministry's food standards and specifications, a "processed fruit and vegetable product" refers to any item made by processing fruits or vegetables as the main ingredient, with or without the addition of other food substances or additives.

The problem in these cases was that vendors advertised a processed food as though it were a newly bred tomato variety by using the term "new variety." The label "stevia farming method" is equally misleading, since stevia is not used as a cultivation technique and the word "farming method" does not apply.

Descriptions such as "natural sugar" or "natural sweetener" are also prohibited. Because the sweetness comes from food additives — enzyme-treated steviol glycosides and sucralose — labeling it as a naturally occurring component of the tomato is not permitted.

Stevia leaves and steviol glycosides are distinct things. According to the ministry, the stevia used in processed foods is not the leaf itself but steviol glycosides — a food additive (sweetener) extracted and refined from the leaf. It is roughly 300 to 400 times sweeter than sugar but contains almost no calories.

Stevia tomatoes also tend to soften more quickly during storage than regular tomatoes. "The surface tissue weakens as the tomatoes go through two rounds of washing and osmotic pressure processing, which makes them prone to softening in storage," Im said. He added that because the product is a processed fruit and vegetable item rather than an agricultural product, consumers should follow the storage instructions on the label and eat it before the expiration date.

The use of stevia has been expanding rapidly on the back of the zero-calorie trend — to the point where it is now being injected into tomatoes. There are, however, caveats. Some people report gastrointestinal discomfort, including bloating and nausea.

Excessive intake should also be avoided. In its 2023 guidelines on sugar-free sweeteners, WHO recommended against using no-sugar sweeteners — including stevia and sucralose — for the purpose of weight control.

The organization also cited research — a 2022 meta-analysis by WHO researchers — suggesting that long-term use may increase the risk of type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and death. WHO's position is that "it is better to consider options such as foods that naturally contain sugar, like fruit, or unsweetened food and drinks."

The Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives has set the acceptable daily intake of steviol glycosides at 4 milligrams per kilogram of body weight. The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety applies the same standard.


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