Stevia pioneer James May dies; AH Focal recalls all supplements marketed since January 2014; and Hemp Inc. upgrades extraction technology. Wis d o m N atur al Br and s founder James May has died following a career in the medicine and health and wellness industries marked by pioneering the stevia market and by his SweetLeaf Sweetener being the first stevia product to receive FDA’s generally recognized as safe status. The Gilbert, Ariz.-based firm on March 3 reported his passing at the age of 80. May left the medical health care industry in 1982 for work that started with the Guarani people of Paraguay and led to establishing his firm and building an international market for products made with rainforest herbs of Paraguay. From his experiences in Paraguay, he became acknowledged as the foremost expert on the healing qualities of stevia, yerba maté and symfrē. Before receiving GRAS notification from FDA for its stevia ingredient, Wisdom Natural Brands launched SweetLeaf after self-certifying its safety. May launched the product ahead of FDA’s notice as manufacturers’ and consumers’ interest in the ingredient surged and stevia’s safety has not aroused any regulatory scrutiny. (Also see "Wisdom’s Unconventional Launch: Stevia Sweetener Without FDA’s GRAS"-Pink Sheet, 30 Jun, 2008.)
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