What consumers thought they were adding to a cup of coffee or recipe turned out not to be the case at all, reveals the FDA.
If you’re cutting back on sugar and its associated calories and glucose spikes, natural sweeteners—including those derived from stevia and monk fruit—offer no-calorie flavor. When consumed in moderation, both stevia and monk fruit sweeteners are considered safe for the general population. However, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) notes that these two products differ in taste, potency, and potential tolerability for some users. Individuals who rely on one sweetener due to personal preference, dietary needs, or sensitivity could experience unexpected effects from the substituted product.
For these reasons, the FDA alerted the public that NuNaturals Inc. of Eugene, Oregon, had voluntarily recalled two powdered sweetener products after discovering that their label contents were swapped. Authorities learned that the stevia product below actually contains monk fruit, while the monk fruit product actually contains stevia:
- Organic Pure Stevia
- Size: 1 ounce (oz.)
- UPC: 7 39223 00204 0
- Pure Monk Fruit Sweetener
- Size: 0.71 ounce (oz.)
- UPC: 7 39223 00187 6
The products, each packaged in plastic bottles with white caps, bear the lot code 25104S. They were produced on April 14, 2025, and include the “Best By” date of April 2028. NuNaturals also posted recall information on the company website, which includes product images.
Initiated on July 14, 2025, and officially terminated on November 21, 2025, the recall involved a total of 78 bottles distributed nationwide. On August 1, the FDA categorized the recall as Class II, indicating that the mislabeling could cause temporary or medically reversible health issues for certain consumers, though the likelihood of serious harm is low.
Since the recall effort has now been terminated, all affected product has likely been removed from the consumer space.
According to Michigan State University’s Center for Research on Ingredient Safety, stevia is a calorie-free sweetener extracted from the leaves of the Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni plant. The leaves and crude extracts are not sold commercially without purification because they have not undergone safety testing, but purified stevia is considered safe. Stevia is roughly 300 times sweeter than sugar, meaning only a very small amount is needed to achieve the desired sweetness in foods and beverages.
Meanwhile, monk fruit sweetener, derived from the luo han gu fruit native to Southeast Asia, is also calorie-free and approximately 100 to 250 times sweeter than sugar, says experts at Michigan State University. Although slightly less potent than stevia, it still requires much smaller amounts compared to traditional sugar. (NuNaturals says that using just 1/64 of a teaspoon of either product is as sweet as a full teaspoon of sugar.)
Many health experts agree that it’s better to minimize your overall sugar intake than to routinely swap out real cane sugar for alternatives. “It’s clear that sugar is damaging to our health in large amounts. However, replacing all sugar with sugar substitutes may not be the answer either,” write representatives from Massachusetts General Hospital. They further note that some sugar substitutes have been linked to changes in the gut microbiota, digestive problems, and heightened heart risk. “It’s hard to fully understand all the health implications of sugar substitutes as research remains inconsistent and simply because there are so many of them! Rather than deeming sugar substitutes ‘bad’ or ‘good,’ it’s important to consider the consumption of sugar substitutes in the context of your whole diet and your unique dietary needs,” they add.
Consumers who still possess bottles from the affected lot are encouraged to discontinue use and contact NuNaturals for guidance or replacement options, per the notice on the NuNaturals website. Although the recall has now been closed, this event highlights the importance of accurate labeling—especially for concentrated sweeteners where even small amounts have potent effects.
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