BRUSSELS, BELGIUM — The International Stevia Council has invited all stakeholders in the stevia value chain to become members.

“We are opening the membership base of the I.S.C. to include stevia ingredient users as well as stevia leaf growers to ensure that the I.S.C. is representative of the complete stevia value chain,” said Larry Fernandes, president of the Brussels-based association. “Ingredient users of stevia, typically food and beverage manufacturers or table top producers, have a great interest in better understanding where and how stevia leaf extracts are sourced.”

The International Stevia Council promotes the use of stevia sweetener products that may help reduce sugars and calories in food. Current members include Cargill, Chengdu Wagott Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., Ingredion, Inc., Morita Kagaku Kogyo Co., Ltd., Nordzucker AG, PureCircle Ltd., Sweet Green Fields, The Real Stevia Co., Verdure Sciences Europe and Whole Earth Sweetener Co.