Chicago — Acceptance among consumers for stevia-sweetened foods and beverages is nearing levels for existing products made with aspartame and sucralose, according to a study.

The NPD Group, Inc. finds 35 percent of U.S. consumers have already consumed or would consider eating products that contain stevia. Comparatively, 39 percent of consumers say the same for aspartame-sweetened items. Further, 51 percent of participants say they've already consumed or would consider products containing sucralose.

While other non-sugar sweeteners have held steady among consumers who say they would eat or drink products that contain them during the past year, stevia has been on the rise, moving from 28.5 percent acceptance in September 2009 to nearly 35 percent in June of this year, according to NPD.