Lemondrop

Remember our recent gripe-fest about top artificial sweeteners being schooled by science? Well, the FDA's approval of natural alternative sweetener stevia just came through, and Coca-Cola and PepsiCo are now set to launch the first diet drinks using the zero-cal sugar substitute. Coca-Cola's stevia sweetener, called Truvia, will make its first appearance in Sprite Green. The new drink will launch in two still unknown cities this month and become widely available in '09. PureVia, a similar stevia sweetener from PepsiCo, will soon be available in zero-calorie SoBe Lifewater in Black and Blue Berry, Fuji Apple Pear and Yumberry Pomegranate flavors. A new orange drink called Trop50, with half the sugar and calories of regular O.J., will also use the sweetener.

Considering the "obesity tax" recently proposed in New York, which would impose an 18 percent tax on all drinks besides milk, diet soda, water and fruit juice with more than 70 percent juice, stevia's approval may have come at the perfect time. For the sake of our health (and finances), let's hope that stevia naturally sweetens without all of the nasty side effects of other artificial sugars. Who knows? Maybe this one really is the new miracle sweetener.