FAQ

Monk fruit, also known as lo han guo or Swingle fruit (Siraitia grosvenorii), is a small round fruit native to southern China. It has been used for centuries in Eastern medicine as a cold and digestive aid, and now it is also being used to sweeten foods and beverages. Monk fruit sweeteners are created by removing the seeds and skin of the fruit, crushing the fruit, and collecting the juice. The fruit extract, or juice, contains zero calories per serving. Monk fruit sweeteners are permitted for use in foods and beverages by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

YES. Monk fruit sweeteners have been permitted as generally recognized as safe (GRAS) by the FDAsince 2010, a category which requires expert consensus that a food ingredient is safe for its intended use. Governments in Australia and New Zealand, China, Japan and Canada (tabletop packets only; not approved for use in foods and beverages) have also concluded that monk fruit sweeteners are safe for the general population, including children, people with diabetes, and women who are pregnant or nursing. An acceptable daily intake (ADI) has not been established for monk fruit sweeteners because adverse effects have not been demonstrated, even after high amounts of monk fruit sweeteners were given in animal studies. The ADI typically represents an amount 100 times less than the quantity of a substance found to be safe in research studies.

YES. Foods that include monk fruit sweeteners can add sweetness to a child’s diet without contributing to increased calorie intake, sugar intake or risk of cavities. While no research has been published on monk fruit sweetener intake in children, no negative effects on health have been demonstrated in animal models or adults. As with adults, current intake of low-calorie sweeteners in children is considered to be well within acceptable levels. Due to limited studies in children, however, the American Academy of Pediatrics does not have official recommendations on low-calorie sweetener intake.

YES. Products containing monk fruit sweeteners provide a sweet taste and are often low or lower in carbohydrates, which is important for people who must monitor their carbohydrate intake. Monk fruit sweeteners do not raise blood sugar levels. The 2018 American Diabetes Association Standards of Medical Care in Diabetes state that, “The use of nonnutritive sweeteners may have the potential to reduce overall calorie and carbohydrate intake if substituted for caloric (sugar) sweeteners and without compensation by intake of additional calories from other food sources. Nonnutritive sweeteners are generally safe to use within the defined acceptable daily intake levels.” Nonetheless, people with diabetes should talk with a registered dietitian, healthcare professional or a certified diabetes educator for advice on healthy eating to improve blood sugar control.