Q Are there any downsides to the sweetener stevia? Is it associated with negative effects or gastrointestinal symptoms? Does it cause sugar cravings if you've given up sugar?

A Major health and food safety organisations generally regard stevia, a sweetener made from a plant native to South America, as safe. But some researchers warn that we don't have enough evidence to fully understand how products like stevia, so-called non-nutritive sweeteners that have no calories, affect the body.