Vegan. Stevia (E960) is a sweetener extracted from the leaves of the Stevia rebaudiana plant, so it is vegan. The steviol glycosides are its sweet compounds.
Stevia is sweetness from a leaf, hundreds of times stronger than sugar. It is a plant extract, no animal step required.
Made fromStevia plant leaves
E numberE960
VerdictVegan
Where it hides
Tabletop sweeteners
Diet soft drinks
Sugar-free foods
Sweetener blends (with erythritol)
What it is
Stevia is an intense sweetener drawn from a South American herb, whose leaves carry compounds far sweeter than sugar.
Primary source 01 / 01
It is extracted from the leaves of Stevia rebaudiana, a plant native to areas of Paraguay and Brazil.
Because the sweetness is extracted straight from the leaf, stevia is vegan. In tabletop and drink form it is often blended with erythritol or another bulking agent, which are themselves plant-based, so the finished sweetener stays vegan.
Erythritol (E968)Erythritol is a sweetener grown by yeast on plant sugar. Unlike its milk-derived cousin lactitol, its name hides nothing.
Xylitol (E967)Xylitol is the tooth-friendly sweetener made from birch or corn. It is plant-based, though a quick warning: it is dangerous to dogs.
Sorbitol (E420)Sorbitol is a sweetener and moisture-keeper made from plant glucose. It is the reason sugar-free gum stays soft, and it is plant-based.
Frequently asked
Is E960 vegan?
Yes. E960 is steviol glycosides from the stevia plant, so it is vegan.
Is stevia processed?
The sweet compounds are extracted and purified from the leaf, so it is more processed than a whole leaf, but it remains a plant-derived sweetener and is vegan.
The same clear-eyed sourcing behind these verdicts, applied to each day’s news: what actually moved veganism forward, quoted and checked before you read it. One short brief, free.
