The Food and Drug Administration has approved two natural zero calorie sweeteners developed by Coca-Cola Co. and PepsiCo Inc. Sweeteners derived from the herb Stevia, have been declared to be safe for use in food and beverages by the federal regulator.

Cargill Inc., which is marketing Coke, said in a news release it had received notification from the FDA and the panel had said it had no objection to the product, called Truvia calling it "generally recognized as safe." Merisant Co.'s Whole Earth Sweetener unit which is teaming up with PepsiCo also said it had received a no-objection letter from the FDA regarding its product PureVia. Both of them already sell table top versions of their sweetener. Both Truvia by Coke and PureVia by Pepsi are stevia-based beverage sweeteners, made from rebiana, a stevia-based extract.

Coke is set to launch with a low calorie version of Sprite called Sprite Green and some Odwalla juice drinks while Pepsi will launch three flavors of a zero-calorie SoBe Lifewater next week, in Fuji Apple Pear, Black and Blue Berry and Yumberry Pomegranate and an orange-juice drink called Trop50, containing half the calories and sugar of orange juice, in March.

PepsiCo Chief Executive Indra Nooyi said earlier this week that she believes the decline in U. S. carbonated soft-drink sales can be halted with new sodas containing a natural, zero-calorie sweetener. The herb based sweetener though poses a challenge for the drink makers as not all drinks manufactured with it taste good, the exception being citrus flavored drinks. The sweetener is also three times as expensive as the regularly used artificial flavors due to its small scale.

Purchase, N. Y.-based PepsiCo and Atlanta-based Coca-Cola are hoping to capture the market with their new products. The company said it is launching Sprite Green, which has 50 calories in Chicago and New York this month in 8.5-ounce aluminum bottles. It will contain some natural sugar along with Truvia and initial availability will be limited to teen and young adult-oriented locations and events with a broader rollout in those cities planned for early next year.